used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
in actual fact
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
buoyancynounUS /ˈbɔɪənsi/
cheerfulness that bubbles to the surface
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
unvarying in nature
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
exhilarationnounUS /ɪɡˌzɪlərˈeɪʃən/
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
set up or found
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
Gertrude's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
grossadjectiveUS /ɡroʊs/
before any deductions
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
only a very short time before
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
heroicadjectiveUS /hɪˈroʊɪk/
very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
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 Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading It produced a moral buoyancy infinitely more delicate and more constant than the gross exhilaration of his old habits.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
sordidadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrdəd/
morally degraded
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading So long as he was at comparative peace with Gertrude and with himself, such a life was more than easy; it was delightful.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For several months now, he had been leading, under Gertrude's inspiration, a strictly decent and sober life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Richard got through the following week he hardly knew how.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
but in spite of that
From this reading He found occupation, to a much greater extent than he was actually aware of, in a sordid and yet heroic struggle with himself.
