used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
(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 He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
brushesnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪz/
plural of “brush” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
climaxnounUS /ˈklaɪmæks/
the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
cobwebnounUS /ˈkɑːbweb/
a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
Dillon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
Dillons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
dramanounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
ELECTIONnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading THE HUMORS OF ELECTION.
enmeshedadjectiveUS /enˈmeʃt/
caught as if in a mesh
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
fine-spun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
geniallyadverb
in an affable manner
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
the act of departing
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
HUMORS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HUMORS OF ELECTION.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HUMORS OF ELECTION.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
possessing material wealth
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
SenatornounUS /ˈsenətər/
a member of a senate
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
shrewdnessnounUS /ˈʃruːdnəs/
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
skilfullyadverb
with skill
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
possessing sweep
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HUMORS OF ELECTION.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
the upper part of anything
From this reading In her mind the climax of the drama was a Dillon at the top of the heap in the City Hall.
precisely as stated
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
at the time that
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
witcherynoun
the art of sorcery
From this reading He believed himself to be the coming man, all his natural shrewdness and rich experience going for naught before the witchery of his sister's imagination.
wondrousadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndrəs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Alas, the very first orders of the chief to his secretary swept away the fine-spun dreams of the Dillons, as the broom brushes into obscure dirt the wondrous cobweb.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading When the villa closed the Senator was hopelessly enmeshed in the golden net which had been so skilfully and genially woven by Anne during the summer.
