used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
(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 If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
behalfnounUS /bɪˈhæf/
as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as “on behalf of” rather than “in behalf of”)
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
benignadjectiveUS /bɪˈnaɪn/
not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
blandadjectiveUS /blænd/
lacking taste or flavor or tang
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
competentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪnt/
properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
Dacent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
DepartmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
dispatchedverbUS /dɪˈspætʃt/
past form of “dispatch” — send away towards a designated goal
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
being one more than ten
From this reading The hour was eleven o’clock.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
divisible by two
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
a man of refinement
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/
the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The hour was eleven o’clock.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
keen-eyedadjective
having keen eyesight
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The hour was eleven o’clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
and nothing more
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
stoutish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
suitenounUS /swiːt/
a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The hour was eleven o’clock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very little of the real work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department, was dispatched at the office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hour was eleven o’clock.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading If he possessed a weakness at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
which person or people
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Dacent Smith was, as usual, up to his ears in work.
but in spite of that
From this reading Servant and master were each equally devoted to the other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland, keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.
