used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
actressnounUS /ˈæktrəs/
a female actor
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
ALLUREnounUS /əˈlʊr/
the power to entice or attract through personal charm
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
maintain with or as if with a bet
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
bread-and-butter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
charmsnounUS /tʃɑːrmz/
plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
a young person of either sex
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
dove-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
Drury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
ELOPEMENTnoun
the act of running away with a lover (usually to get married)
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/
an old form of “has”
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
Herminia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
iniquitynounUS /ˌɪˈnɪkwɪti/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
free from evil or guilt
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
languishesverbUS /ˈlæŋɡwɪʃɪz/
third-person singular of “languish” — lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
luredverbUS /lʊrd/
past form of “lure” — provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
meekadjectiveUS /miːk/
humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
monstersnounUS /ˈmɑːnstərz/
plural of “monster” — an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
the light of the Moon
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
not any; not one
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading “Oh no, my lady!” nodded placid Betty.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
notableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəbəl/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
oglesverbUS /ˈoʊɡəlz/
third-person singular of “ogle” — look at with amorous intentions
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
patentverbUS /ˈpætənt/
obtain a patent for
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
perfidiousadjective
tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading “Oh no, my lady!” nodded placid Betty.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
seducingverbUS /sɪˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “seduce” — induce to have sex
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
silkyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlki/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
SIMPLICITYnounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
smooth-tonguedadjective
artfully persuasive in speech
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
soft-spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
talksnounUS /tɔːks/
a discussion intended to produce an agreement
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
travelling-mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/
to an exceedingly great extent or degree
From this reading THE ALLURE OF SIMPLICITY: MOONLIGHT AND AN ELOPEMENT “Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me!
precisely as stated
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
wenchnounUS /wentʃ/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul!
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!”
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
wretchnounUS /retʃ/
performs some wicked deed
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child!
