used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
allurementnoun
attractiveness
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
blamelessadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪmləs/
free of guilt; not subject to blame
From this reading Weigand's walk and conversation were blameless.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Weigand's walk and conversation were blameless.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
having made preparations
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
divorceverbUS /dɪˈvɔːrs/
part; cease or break association with
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
drasticadjectiveUS /ˈdræstɪk/
forceful and extreme and rigorous
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
divisible by two
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
infidelitynounUS /ˌɪnfɪˈdelɪti/
the quality of being unfaithful
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
inflameverbUS /ɪnˈfleɪm/
cause inflammation in
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
reasonedadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənd/
logically valid
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Her one hope consisted in catching him in some chance infidelity.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
precisely as stated
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Weigand's walk and conversation were blameless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How was the man to be disposed of?
Weigand's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Weigand's walk and conversation were blameless.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Weigand's walk and conversation were blameless.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The desire for change, she reasoned, the allurement of forbidden fruit, must inflame even this wooden creature.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An open demand for divorce would have been stupid, for it would have thrown a very vivid suspicion upon any later and more drastic attempt.
