abominableadjectiveUS /əˈbɑːmənəbəl/
unequivocally detestable
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
(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 He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
the act of breaking something
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
credulitynounUS /krɪˈduːləti/
tendency to believe readily
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He began the abominable campaign the next evening after dinner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
Olivia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
on one occasion
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
passportnounUS /ˈpæspɔːrt/
any authorization to pass or go somewhere
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
pleanounUS /pliː/
a humble request for help from someone in authority
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
quagmirenounUS /ˈkwæɡmaɪər/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
revulsionnounUS /rɪˈvʌlʃən/
intense aversion
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At every fresh lie he dreaded lest her credulity should reach the breaking point.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
unquestioningadjectiveUS /ənˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
not inclined to ask questions
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading He had been absent all day, on the vague plea of business.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For he had to lie once more—and this time with revulsion and despair.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading BUT for Olivia’s unquestioning faith in him he would not have pulled through this passport quagmire.
