used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
in addition
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
awesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːsəm/
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
clutchesnounUS /ˈklʌtʃəz/
the act of grasping
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
devilsnounUS /ˈdevəlz/
plural of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
drugsnounUS /drʌɡz/
plural of “drug” — a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
foreignersnounUS /ˈfɔːrənərz/
plural of “foreigner” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
half-fascinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
half-frightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
illiterateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlɪtərət/
not able to read or write
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
insiduous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
JewsnounUS /dʒuːz/
plural of “jew” — a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
staying power
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
roused to anger
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
medicinesnounUS /ˈmedəsənz/
plural of “medicine” — the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
the force of workers available
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
not able to be found
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
nicknamedverbUS /ˈnɪkneɪmd/
past form of “nickname” — give a nickname to
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
not any; not one
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
pogromsnounUS /pəˈɡrɑːmz/
plural of “pogrom” — organized persecution of an ethnic group (especially Jews)
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
any competition
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
To recall to mind.
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
surpassverbUS /sərˈpæs/
distinguish oneself
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
the act of using
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
at the time that
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
whisperings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No mad whisperings among illiterate Russian peasants leading to pogroms of the Jews could surpass these insiduous stories.
white-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
which person or people
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Foreigners, it was said, when they wished powerful medicines, took the eyes of Chinese children and boiled them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading They were also reported to cut up dead bodies, besides being willing to use their knives on the living whom they put to sleep with drugs and who woke up to find legs and arms missing....
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The circumstances surrounding his first meeting with foreigners--those white-faced men and women of western race who had been nicknamed by the common people "foreign devils"--had a tremendous influence on him.
a late time of life
From this reading From his earliest years he could remember being half-frightened, half-fascinated by the awesome tales which were current regarding their strength and their violence--and of the dread things they did to children if they fell into their clutches.
