used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
in addition
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
a quantity of money
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/
relating to or characteristic of art or artists
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
brought into existence
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
carefully weighed
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
dustingverbUS /ˈdʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
usually; as a rule
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
JaspernounUS /ˈdʒæspər/
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
MAN'SnounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
and nothing more
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
perpetuallyadverbUS /pərˈpetʃuːəli/
everlastingly; for all time
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
see-sawed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
selfishnessnounUS /ˈselfɪʃnəs/
stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
sensitivenessnounUS /ˈsensətɪvnəs/
sensitivity to emotional feelings (of self and others)
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
spasmodicallyadverbUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪkli/
with spasms
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
termedverbUS /tɜːrmd/
past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading He see-sawed between conscience and--it must be given its right name--selfishness, in a manner which made his life not only uncomfortable to himself, but almost equally uncomfortable to others.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He possessed, also, an enormous amount of that quality which is generally termed artistic sensitiveness, but which is most frequently a polite and pretty name for selfishness.
which person or people
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A MAN'S CONSCIENCE Jasper Merton was a man who had been born with a curious kind of conscience.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In reality it only worked spasmodically and at unexpected intervals.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He was perpetually looking at it, dusting it, and seeing that it kept in what he considered perfect working order.
