used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
at or in the front
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
for the reason that
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
CalumetnounUS /ˌkæljəˈmet/
a highly decorated ceremonial pipe of Amerindians; smoked on ceremonial occasions (especially as a token of peace)
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
completedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtəd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
gotten under control
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading He felt a contempt for him.
destiniesnounUS /ˈdestəniz/
plural of “destiny” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt a contempt for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He himself was mean and vicious--he knew that.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
a message received and understood
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He himself was mean and vicious--he knew that.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He himself was mean and vicious--he knew that.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
presidedverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/
past form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
on the contrary
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
RESPONSIBILITYnounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
successive (without a break)
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
Taggart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
Taggarts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
termagantnoun
a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He himself was mean and vicious--he knew that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
male cat
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
traitornounUS /ˈtreɪtər/
someone who betrays his country by committing treason
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading He himself was mean and vicious--he knew that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RESPONSIBILITY For a long time after he had completed the reading of the letter, Calumet was silent, staring straight ahead of him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He already hated the Taggarts, not particularly because they were his father's enemies, but rather because Tom Taggart had been a traitor.
which person or people
From this reading The information contained in the account of his father's adventures was soothing--the termagant who had presided over his boyhood destinies had not been his real mother, and his father had left him a score to settle.
