used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading But you were afraid of Aunt Betsy.
be in accord; be in agreement
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
(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 She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading But you were afraid of Aunt Betsy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
Betsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you were afraid of Aunt Betsy.
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
blotsnounUS /blɑːts/
plural of “blot” — a blemish made by dirt
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
Boyd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
calumnynounUS /ˈkæləmni/
a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
cowardicenounUS /ˈkaʊərdəs/
the trait of lacking courage
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
escutcheonnoun
a flat protective covering (on a door or wall etc) to prevent soiling by dirty fingers
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
at any time
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
an act that fails
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
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 "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
and nothing more
From this reading It is the only cowardice I ever knew you to be guilty of.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
be standing; be upright
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
strengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈstreŋθənd/
given added strength or support
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
talksnounUS /tɔːks/
a discussion intended to produce an agreement
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
express in words
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
testimonynounUS /ˈtestəmoʊni/
a solemn statement made under oath
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
a special situation
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
a source of difficulty
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
undeservedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈzɜːrvd/
not deserved or earned
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It would have strengthened and encouraged him with the assurance that one brave man at least knew his character and was ready to face calumny with an assertion of his confidence.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But you were afraid of Aunt Betsy.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
the least favorable outcome
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But, Margaret, what good would that have done in face of the evidence or the testimony, for I agree with you that there's a difference?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She talks of placing 'blots on our escutcheon'--as if we had an escutcheon, whatever that sort of thing may be; I tell you the worst blot of all was made by your failure to go to Richmond and stand by Boyd in his undeserved trouble.
