used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
assemblagenounUS /əˈsemblədʒ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
associatedverbUS /əˈsoʊsieɪtɪd/
past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
châtelaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
common-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
eminentadjectiveUS /ˈemənənt/
standing above others in quality or position
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
expedients
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
extravagances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
fellow-prisoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
Gardel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
inextricablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈnekstrɪkʌbli/
in an inextricable manner
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
kaleidoscopicadjective
continually shifting or rapidly changing
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
Kercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
MarquisnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
motleynounUS /ˈmɑːtli/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
not any; not one
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
and nothing more
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
procureverbUS /proʊˈkjʊr/
get by special effort
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
rascalsnounUS /ˈræskəlz/
plural of “rascal” — a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
representativenounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪv/
a person who represents others
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
runnernounUS /ˈrʌnər/
someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading By a curious irony of circumstance, it fell to Madame, his former châtelaine, to second his extravagances.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading For he was her fellow-prisoner; and, out of all that motley, kaleidoscopic assemblage, an only representative of the traditions of her past.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
varietiesnounUS /vərˈaɪətiz/
plural of “variety” — a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
vivaciousadjectiveUS /vəˈveɪʃəs/
vigorous and animated
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He was vivacious, and at all expedients as ingenious as he was practical; and, while he was with us, the common-room of La Force was a theatre of varieties.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gardel--one of the most eminent and amusing rascals of my experience--is inextricably associated with my memories of the prison of the Little Force.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had been runner to the Marquis de Kercy; and that his vanity would by no means deny, though it should procure his conviction ten times over.
