used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
appropriateverbUS /əˈproʊpriət/
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
cereusnoun
genus of much-branched treelike or shrubby cacti with pronounced ribs and rounded needlelike spines and nocturnal flowers usually white
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
cloyinglyadverb
in an overly sweet manner
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
a state of high honor
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
impliedverbUS /ˌɪmˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “imply” — express or state indirectly
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
misnamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A far more appropriate name might have been chosen.
nicotinenounUS /ˈnɪkətiːn/
an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
night-blooming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
odorsnounUS /ˈoʊdərz/
plural of “odor” — any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
by chance
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
petalsnounUS /ˈpetəlz/
plural of “petal” — part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
slanderousadjectiveUS /ˈslændərəs/
(used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
sleepsnounUS /sliːps/
plural of “sleep” — a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
soliditynounUS /səˈlɪdəti/
the consistency of a solid
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
spreadsnounUS /spredz/
plural of “spread” — process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
sturdinessnounUS /ˈstɜːrdinəs/
the state of being vigorous and robust
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RED OAK Red Oak as a town was badly misnamed.
well-proportionedadjective
of pleasing proportions
From this reading It was utterly devoid of the implied qualities of sturdiness, solidity, or well-proportioned size.
a Caucasian
From this reading Something, perhaps, like the night-blooming cereus, or the cloyingly sweet nicotine, that sleeps all day and spreads its glory of white petals and sweet odors through the night.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But that would be slanderous to the blossoms.
