used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
consider or hold as true
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
esotericadjectiveUS /ˌesəˈterɪk/
confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading He had lost his fierce serenity.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had lost his fierce serenity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
plural of “like” — a similar kind
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He had lost his fierce serenity.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
nonentities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
phagenounUS /feɪdʒ/
a virus that is parasitic (reproduces itself) in bacteria
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/
any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading He had lost his fierce serenity.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
TerrynounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
well-dressedadjective
having tasteful clothing and being scrupulously neat
From this reading So long as he had had a refuge in talking to Terry, he had not been too irritated by well-dressed nonentities, and for a time he had enjoyed the dramatic game of making Nice People accept him.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was too conscious of the ordeal of a professional social life, and he could never understand that esoteric phenomenon, the dinner-party--the painful entertainment of people whom one neither likes nor finds interesting.
Wickett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I With Terry Wickett gone, Martin returned to phage.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading He made a false start and did the worst work of his life.
