used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
(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 Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
ancestressnoun
a woman ancestor
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
Cloten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
compoundnounUS /ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
Cymbeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
deviltrynoun
wicked and cruel behavior
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
dispossessverbUS /ˌdɪspəˈzes/
deprive of the possession of real estate
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
distillingverbUS /dɪˈstɪlɪŋ/
inflected form of “distil” — undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
embracedverbUS /emˈbreɪst/
past form of “embrace” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
essences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
footstoolnoun
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
death of a person
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
herbsnounUS /ɜːrbz/
plural of “herb” — a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
Imogen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
Imogen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
includingverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
liegemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
joined in matrimony
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
take in marriage
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
mineralnounUS /ˈmɪnərəl/
solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
subject to death
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
not any; not one
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
noxiousadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːkʃəs/
injurious to physical or mental health
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
ostensiblyadverbUS /ɑːˈstensəbli/
from appearances alone
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
plottingverbUS /ˈplɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “plot” — plan secretly, usually something illegal
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
shallow-pated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
simmeringnounUS /ˈsɪmərɪŋ/
cooking in a liquid that has been brought to a boil
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
a male human offspring
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
step-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
step-mothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
strong-mindedadjective
having a determined will
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading Now the King has no suspicion of the simmering deviltry that he embraced.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She rules the king by force or craft, and has arranged to marry Imogen to her own shallow-pated son Cloten.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
look attentively
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading But the compound that is ostensibly for rats is intended to dispossess Imogen of all her watchful liegemen, including her husband; and then, after getting her married to Cloten, the "mortal mineral" was meant to waste the King by inches to a grave that should be a royal footstool for her son.
which person or people
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Imogen's step-mother, the Queen and wife of Cymbeline, is a strong-minded woman, who "bears all down with her brain."
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading This ancestress of all the plotting step-mothers carries poison in her heart: her relatives may expect to find it in their food; for she is curious in distilling the essences of noxious herbs, under a scientific pretext to watch their effects in creatures not worth the hanging.
