used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
abatedverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
appreciatedadjectiveUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
Byrne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
congratulatingverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
deceitnounUS /dɪˈsiːt/
The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
the act of departing
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
hypocrisynounUS /hɪˈpɑːkrəsi/
an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading What a mess it was!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
reputedverbUS /rɪˈpjuːtɪd/
past form of “repute” — look on as or consider
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
move an implement through
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Something like conscience, something like remorse, had room to stir in place of his abated fears.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
vilenessnoun
the quality of being wicked
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a mess it was!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Suddenly then he appreciated the vileness on which he was congratulating himself, and the earlier blackness settled upon him.
wickednessnounUS /ˈwɪkədnəs/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading It was going to be a wretched business, this "easy" lying and hypocrisy and deceit--endless stretches of wickedness seemed to open out before him.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading How the devil had it happened--to him, Stephen Byrne, the reputed, respectable young author?
