Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

past form of “arrest” — take into custody

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

past form of “care” — feel concern or interest

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

a young person of either sex

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

plural of “chore” — a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

carefully weighed

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

excessively

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

a female human offspring

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a boy or man

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

four years of age

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

usually; as a rule

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

not causing or capable of causing harm

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

in a harsh or unkind manner

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

of great significance or value

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

a single distinct event

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

plural of “job” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

subjected to cruel treatment

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

not divisible by two

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

expecting unquestioning obedience

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a member of a ship's crew who performs manual labor

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

Identical; not different.

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading He had arrested Smith and, it is said, cruelly mistreated him.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

-ing form of “treat” — interact in a certain way

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The cause of this awful outbreak of human passion was the murder of a four-year-old child, daughter of a man named Vance.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

widely or fully known

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

a Caucasian

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

which person or people

From this reading Whether or not the murder of his child was an art of fiendish revenge, it has not been shown, but many persons who know of the incident have suggested that the secret of the attack on the child lay in a desire for revenge against its father.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading In the same town there lived a Negro, named Henry Smith, a well-known character, a kind of roustabout, who was generally considered a harmless, weak-minded fellow, not capable of doing any important work, but sufficiently able to do chores and odd jobs around the houses of the white people who cared to employ him.

a late time of life

From this reading This man, Vance, had been a police officer in Paris for years, and was known to be a man of bad temper, overbearing manner and given to harshly treating the prisoners under his care.