used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
adventuressnoun
a woman adventurer
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
(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 She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
assumptionnounUS /əˈsʌmpʃən/
a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
placed in a grave
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
CellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
deceivingverbUS /dɪˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
foundedverbUS /ˈfaʊndɪd/
past form of “found” — set up or found
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
obtain
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
innocencenounUS /ˈɪnəsəns/
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
Lawrence'snounUS /ˈlɔːrənsɪz/
possessive form of “lawrence” — Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
held dear
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
a particular point in time
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
and nothing more
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
by chance
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
on the contrary
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
resurrectionnounUS /ˌrezərˈekʃən/
(New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion
From this reading Or perhaps she had really believed that old mistake of hers buried past resurrection.
riskingverbUS /ˈrɪskɪŋ/
-ing form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
cut with a saw
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
ungovernableadjectiveUS /ənˈɡʌvərnəbəl/
incapable of being controlled
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
at the time that
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When I did understand them, I saw crumbling before me that elaborate structure which I had been at such pains to build--the structure founded upon the assumption of Miss Lawrence's innocence.
which person or people
From this reading She may have thought him dead, this fascinating scoundrel who had turned her girlish head.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was only an adventuress, after all, then; or, more probably, only a weak woman, swayed by an ungovernable passion, risking everything rather than give up the man she loved; deceiving him, lying to him, taking the one desperate chance that lay within her reach; pausing at nothing so she might gain her end.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The Secret of the Cellar It was a moment before I fully understood the meaning of these extraordinary words.
