used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
breastsnounUS /brests/
plural of “breast” — the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
CoranounUS /ˈkɔːrə/
(Greek mythology) daughter of Zeus and Demeter; made queen of the underworld by Pluto in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Proserpina
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
PaxtonnounUS /ˈpækstən/
English architect (1801-1865)
From this reading --Paxton.
REIGNSnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “reign” — a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful
From this reading SUPERSTITION REIGNS.
SalemnounUS /ˈseɪləm/
capital of the state of Oregon in the northwestern part of the state on the Willamette River
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
express in words
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
settlementsnounUS /ˈsetəlmənts/
plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
smiteverb
inflict a heavy blow on, with the hand, a tool, or a weapon
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
StevensnounUS /ˈstiːvənz/
United States psychologist and psychophysicist who proposed Stevens' power law to replace Fechner's law (1906-1973)
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
SUPERSTITIONnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading SUPERSTITION REIGNS.
possessing sweep
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
a shaky motion
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
UnlawfuladjectiveUS /ənˈlɔːfəl/
not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some smite their breasts and trembling say, "Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
in the company of; together with
From this reading After the escape of Mrs. Stevens and Cora Waters, a wave of superstition swept over the village of Salem with such irresistible fury, that it seemed in greater danger than the frontier settlements did from the French and Indians.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading The awful tragedy was through, And friends and enemies withdrew.
