used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
accidentsnounUS /ˈæksədənts/
plural of “accident” — an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
(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 His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
completionnounUS /kəmˈpliːʃən/
(American football) a successful forward pass in football
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
ContractorsnounUS /ˈkɑːntræktərz/
plural of “contractor” — someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
delaysnounUS /dɪˈleɪz/
plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
one or the other of two
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
MullernounUS /ˈmʌlər/
Swiss chemist who synthesized DDT and discovered its use as an insecticide (1899-1965)
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
not one, and not any
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
retrospectnounUS /ˈretrəspekt/
contemplation of things past
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
SternenounUS /stɜːrn/
English writer (born in Ireland) (1713-1766)
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But he had not been at work many weeks before he began to fear that twelve months would be much nearer the limit.
unconsciouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəsli/
without awareness
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE VALUE OF A LIFE During the next few weeks Rufus Sterne was kept so busy that he had very little time for either retrospect or anticipation.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading His great complaint was that the days were all too short for the work he wanted to crowd into them.
workmennounUS /ˈwɜːrkmɪn/
plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading Contractors were so slow, workmen were so careless, and accidents--none of them serious--were so numerous, that delays were inevitable, and the days grew into weeks unconsciously.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had told Felix Muller that six months would see his scheme well on its way to completion.
