used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
amassingverbUS /əˈmæsɪŋ/
-ing form of “amass” — collect or gather
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Let me explain.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
imposedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzd/
set forth authoritatively as obligatory
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
indolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪndələnt/
disinclined to work or exertion
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Let me explain.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
and nothing more
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
and nothing more
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
rupeesnounUS /ruːˈpiːz/
plural of “rupee” — the basic unit of money in Sri Lanka; equal to 100 cents
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
be seated
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
not in physical motion
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
suggestiveadjectiveUS /səˈdʒestɪv/
tending to suggest or imply
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
tattle-tale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I had merely to sit still and do nothing—and draw three rupees a day for doing it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Almost the only condition imposed upon me was that the sitting must be done on a street car.
vagabondsnounUS /ˈvæɡəbɑːndz/
plural of “vagabond” — anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place
From this reading The job was suggestive of the spy and the tattle-tale, but the most indolent of vagabonds could not have dreamed of a more ideal means of amassing a fortune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was my good fortune to find employment the next morning.
