plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
(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 In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
artfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːrtfəl/
not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
brutaladjectiveUS /ˈbruːtəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
bulldogverbUS /ˈbʊldɔːɡ/
attack viciously and ferociously
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
confederatesnounUS /kənˈfedərəts/
plural of “confederate” — a supporter of the Confederate States of America
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
contumacynoun
willful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
dementating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
demoniacaladjective
of, pertaining to, or like a demon or possession by a demon
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
Durkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
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 Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
malevolencenoun
wishing evil to others
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
narrownessnounUS /ˈneroʊnəs/
the property of being narrow; having little width
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
obsessionsnounUS /əbˈseʃənz/
plural of “obsession” — an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
old-timeadjective
attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
on one occasion
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
pagannounUS /ˈpeɪɡən/
a person who does not acknowledge your god
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
passionsnounUS /ˈpæʃənz/
plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
Penfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
pertinacitynoun
persistent determination
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
primordialadjectiveUS /prɪˈmɔːrdiəl/
having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
rat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
ruthlessadjectiveUS /ˈruːθləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She knew the pagan and primordial malevolence of the being, the almost demoniacal passions that could sweep through him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frances Durkin knew the man she had to face.
trembleverbUS /ˈtrembəl/
move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading In his artful and ruthless campaign against Penfield, in his relentless crushing of old-time confederates, in each and all of his earlier underground adventures, she had seen the sullen, bulldog, brutal contumacy of the man.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading More than once she had seen his obsessions tremble on the verge of utter madness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She had come to know the rat-like pertinacity, the morbid, dementating narrowness of mind, that made him what he was.
