used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
absorbverbUS /əbˈzɔːrb/
become imbued
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
cavesnounUS /keɪvz/
plural of “cave” — a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
DesnounUS /des/
a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
Esseintes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
divisible by two
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
at any time
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
evokedadjectiveUS /ɪˈvoʊkt/
called forth from a latent or potential state by stimulation
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
set up or found
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
hibernates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
not any; not one
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
nourishedadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃt/
being provided with adequate nourishment
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
saturatedadjectiveUS /ˈsætʃəreɪtɪd/
being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature; unable to dissolve still more of a substance
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He could not even receive impressions through his eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
torpidadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrpəd/
slow and apathetic
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
at the time that
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Ever since the night when he had evoked, for no apparent reason, a whole train of melancholy memories, pictures of his past life returned to Des Esseintes and gave him no peace.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to him that his mind, saturated with literature and art, refused to absorb any more.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He lived within himself, nourished by his own substance, like some torpid creature which hibernates in caves.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He found himself unable to understand a single word of the books he read.
