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 SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

not functioning properly

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

a formal public statement

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

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

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

a shelter from danger or hardship

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

tried unsuccessfully

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

only a very short time before

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

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

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

for the reason that

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

past form of “boom” — make a resonant sound, like artillery

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

the act of burning something

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

capability to perform or produce

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

expel from a country

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

the quality of being humane

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

a person of subnormal intelligence

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

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

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

putting a person to death by mob action without due process of law

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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 Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

information about recent and important events

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He barely escaped with his life, was driven out of the city and became an exile because of his actions.

above and across; more than

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

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

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

an announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

the act of punishing

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

a solemn statement made under oath

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

create by training and teaching

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

radically distinctive and without equal

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

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

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

widely or fully known

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Every train that came in was loaded to its utmost capacity, and there were demands at many points for special trains to bring the people here to see the unparalleled punishment for an unparalleled crime.

at the time that

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

which person or people

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

a raging and rapidly spreading conflagration

From this reading When the news of the burning went over the country like wildfire, at every country town anvils boomed forth the announcement.

in the company of; together with

From this reading SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ASYLUM It may not be amiss in connection with this awful affair, in proof of our assertion that Smith was an imbecile, to give the testimony of a well-known colored minister, who lived at Paris, Texas, at the time of the lynching.

someone who sees an event and reports what happened

From this reading He was a witness of the awful scenes there enacted, and attempted, in the name of God and humanity, to interfere in the programme.