used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
in addition
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
from appearances alone
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/
plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
a period of 100 years
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
the act of discovering something
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
one or the other of two
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
explicableadjectiveUS /ekˈsplɪkəbəl/
capable of being explicated or accounted for
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
forgetfuladjectiveUS /fɔːrˈɡetfəl/
(of memory) deficient in retentiveness or range
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
heretoforeadverbUS /ˌhɪrtəˈfɔːr/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
immediately past
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
not one, and not any
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
on one occasion
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
participantsnounUS /pɑːrˈtɪsəpənts/
plural of “participant” — someone who takes part in an activity
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
possessesverbUS /pəˈzesəz/
third-person singular of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
publicationnounUS /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/
a copy of a printed work offered for distribution
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
one of four equal parts
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
searchersnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃərz/
plural of “searcher” — someone making a search or inquiry
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, and as two others shared in the discovery, it may seem to the reader strange that the general public has been kept in ignorance of an event apparently so full of interest.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading In any view of the case, there are reasons, personal to myself, why it was less my duty than that of either of the others to place on record the facts of the discovery.
widespreadadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdˈspred/
widely circulated or diffused
From this reading It is also possible that the discovery did not at the time impress either my companions or myself as having that importance and widespread interest which I have at last come to believe it really possesses.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading It was once my good fortune to assist in a discovery of some importance to lovers of literature, and to searchers after the new and wonderful.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet this silence is quite explicable; for of the three participants none has heretofore written for publication; and of my two associates, one is a quiet, retiring man, the other is erratic and forgetful.
