used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
alternativesnounUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvz/
plural of “alternative” — one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
Beaumanoir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
disciplinedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪsəplənd/
obeying the rules
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
disgraceverbUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
bring shame or dishonor upon
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
enormitynounUS /ɪˈnɔːrməti/
the quality of being outrageous
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
entailverbUS /enˈteɪl/
have as a logical consequence
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
entanglementnounUS /enˈtæŋɡəlmənt/
an intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
exposeverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊz/
expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
a social unit living together
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
with resolute determination
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
a young female
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
ruffians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
move hurridly
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
treacherynounUS /ˈtretʃ.ər.i/
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or disloyalty against a host or ally.
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
white-bearded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
wire-pullernoun
one who uses secret influence (i.e. pulls wires or strings) for his own ends
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Beaumanoir passed into the corridor with unsteady steps, dazed by the enormity of his entanglement.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But that course would entail confession of his engagement as a criminal instrument, to the everlasting disgrace of the great family of which he was now the head.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading His first impulse was to rush off to Scotland Yard, expose the white-bearded wire-puller in the invalid chair, and claim protection.
but in spite of that
From this reading He had been caught so easily, yet he was held so firmly.
Ziegler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The alternatives were foul treachery to the girl of his heart or almost certain death at the hands of Ziegler’s disciplined ruffians.
