used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
Bentons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
a female human offspring
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
glaringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlerɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
IMPUDENCEnoun
an impudent statement
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
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 He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
mothsnounUS /mɔːθs/
plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
and nothing more
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
with speed
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading An angry feeling came into his heart, as he recalled how little was being done to keep such girls from destruction.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
singedverbUS /sɪndʒd/
past form of “singe” — burn superficially or lightly
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE It was not easy for Douglas to get to sleep that night.
waywardadjectiveUS /ˈweɪwərd/
resistant to guidance or discipline
From this reading He thought much about the Bentons and their anxiety over their wayward daughter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
which person or people
From this reading He knew that there were many such cases, of mere girls, carefully reared, who were drawn to the city only to be singed or ruined, as moths by the glaring flame.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading How sad it was that a young life should be so quickly and easily ruined in the city.
