used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
accessnounUS /ˈækses/
the right to enter
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
Algernon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
AmidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
AverageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
beneficentadjectiveUS /ˌbenəˈfɪʃənt/
doing or producing good
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
coat-of-arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
CosmicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːzmɪk/
of or from or pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
cynicismnounUS /ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm/
a cynical feeling of distrust
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
devicenounUS /dɪˈvaɪs/
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
egotisticadjective
characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
et
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
divisible by two
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
conformity or harmony
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/
very recently
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
Nihilnoun
(Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ)
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
on one occasion
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
and nothing more
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
organizationnounUS /ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/
a group of people who work together
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
in other respects or ways
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
pleasingadjectiveUS /ˈpliːzɪŋ/
giving pleasure and satisfaction
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
Praeterea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
possessing material wealth
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
Spofford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
stolidadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːləd/
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
traditionnounUS /trəˈdɪʃən/
an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading Club tradition declared that he had been admitted solely for the beneficent purpose of keeping the more egotistic members in a permanent and pleasing glow of superiority.
unappreciatedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/
not likely to be rewarded
From this reading In an access of unappreciated cynicism, Average Jones had once suggested to him, as a device for his newly acquired coat-of-arms, “Rocks et Praeterea Nihil.”
unbalancedadjectiveUS /ənˈbælənst/
being or thrown out of equilibrium
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
uniqueadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was very rich, but otherwise quite harmless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the Cosmic Club Mr. Algernon Spofford was a figure of distinction.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Amidst the varied, curious, eccentric, brilliant, and even slightly unbalanced minds which made the organization unique, his was the only wholly stolid and stupid one.
