used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
alternativeadjectiveUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/
serving or used in place of another
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
Bartley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did so, firmly but coolly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
coollyadverbUS /ˈkuːli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading He did so, firmly but coolly.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did so, firmly but coolly.
disobeyedverbUS /ˌdɪsoʊˈbeɪd/
past form of “disobey” — refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
divisible by two
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
with resolute determination
From this reading He did so, firmly but coolly.
GORDIANadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdiən/
extremely intricate; usually in phrase “Gordian knot”
From this reading THE GORDIAN KNOT.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
indignantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnənt/
angered at something unjust or wrong
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
KNOTnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading THE GORDIAN KNOT.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
prejudicesnounUS /ˈpredʒədɪsɪz/
plural of “prejudice” — a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
reluctancenounUS /rɪˈlʌktəns/
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He did so, firmly but coolly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
a male human offspring
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GORDIAN KNOT.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
Walter'snounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
possessive form of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
which person or people
From this reading Walter continued to keep his temper, and with some reluctance asked him whether he owed nothing, not even a sacrifice of his prejudices, to a son who had never disobeyed him, and had improved his circumstances.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His father, irritated by the scene with Bartley, treated Walter's proposal with indignant scorn.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Walter, however, would not despair until he had laid the alternative before his father.
