used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
bigamynoun
the state of having two spouses at the same time
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
ceasesnounUS /ˈsiːsɪz/
plural of “cease” — (“cease” is a noun only in the phrase “without cease”) end
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
Clifford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading CURTAIN.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
on the contrary
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
express the need or desire for
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
believed likely
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
express in words
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
a source of difficulty
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Grace Clifford made an earnest request to Colonel Clifford and her father never to tell Walter he had been suspected of bigamy.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
(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 Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
at the time that
From this reading It seems, however, to be a rule in life, and in fiction, that interest flags when trouble ceases.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Now the troubles of our good people were pretty well over, and we will put it to the reader whether they had not enough.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Striking incidents will draw the writer; but we know that our readers would rather hear about the characters they can respect.
