used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
BETTY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
a social unit living together
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
gratificationnounUS /ˌɡrætəfəˈkeɪʃən/
state of being gratified or satisfied
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
luxuriancenoun
the property of being lush and abundant and a pleasure to the senses
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
malicenounUS /ˈmæləs/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
pouncedverbUS /paʊnst/
past form of “pounce” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
moving very fast
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
TIDINGSnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
treasonnounUS /ˈtriːzən/
a crime that undermines the offender's government
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
trialsnounUS /ˈtraɪəlz/
plural of “trial” — the act of testing something
From this reading The marvellous stories told at the trials showed the luxuriance of the popular imagination.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A man might be pounced upon, examined, committed to prison, and his own family be unconscious of his situation.
USESnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/
plural of “use” — the act of using
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The movements of the government were swift and secret.
WHIPverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading MISTRESS BETTY USES HER WHIP TIDINGS of an arrest for high treason travelled but slowly.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading It was a golden opportunity for the false witness; for the public gratification of private malice.
