used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am in no sense of the word an excellent fellow.’
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
Arbuthnot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
breakfastsnounUS /ˈbrekfəsts/
plural of “breakfast” — the first meal of the day (usually in the morning)
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
card-playingadjective
preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
despatchverb
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
a movement into or inward
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
a boy or man
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
Gaston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
Geoffrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
HappilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am in no sense of the word an excellent fellow.’
industriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəs/
characterized by hard work and perseverance
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
and nothing more
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
KISMETnounUS /ˈkɪzmɪt/
(Islam) the will of Allah
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
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 ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
as might be expected
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
not any; not one
From this reading I am in no sense of the word an excellent fellow.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
picnicsnounUS /ˈpɪknɪks/
plural of “picnic” — a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
quitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading I am in no sense of the word an excellent fellow.’
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
Tintajeux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Happily,’ said Gaston, ‘I have the capacity for large waste of time.
(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 ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
at the time that
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
which person or people
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The characteristic remark came from Gaston, who was entering his wife’s sitting-room just about the hour when Geoffrey quitted Tintajeux.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I am in no sense of the word an excellent fellow.’
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading KISMET ‘To a naturally industrious man these islands would be the mischief.’
an affirmative
From this reading ‘Yes, Mrs. Arbuthnot, these bachelor breakfasts, these picnics, these summer nights given up to card-playing, might well despatch many an excellent fellow along the road to ruin.
