used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
advancesnounUS /ədˈvænsəz/
plural of “advance” — a movement forward
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
aloofnessnounUS /əˈluːfnəs/
indifference by personal withdrawal
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
aptitudenounUS /ˈæptətuːd/
inherent ability
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
disillusionmentnounUS /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒənmənt/
freeing from false belief or illusions
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
fanningverbUS /ˈfænɪŋ/
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
fluenounUS /fluː/
flat bladelike projection on the arm of an anchor
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
futilitynounUS /fjuːˈtɪləti/
uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/
compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
hearthstonenoun
a stone that forms a hearth
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
kindlingnounUS /ˈkɪndlɪŋ/
material for starting a fire
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
misunderstandingnounUS /ˌmɪsəndərˈstændɪŋ/
putting the wrong interpretation on
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
movesnounUS /muːvz/
plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
overnightadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈnaɪt/
during or for the length of one night
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
reactionsnounUS /riˈækʃənz/
plural of “reaction” — (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
Starratt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
tinglingadjectiveUS /ˈtɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
exciting by touching lightly so as to cause laughter or twitching movements
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was full of tingling reactions to the sharp chill of disillusionment.
tolerantadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərənt/
showing respect for the rights or opinions or practices of others
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
under normal conditions
From this reading In the past, the first moves toward adjusting a misunderstanding had come usually from him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
at the time that
From this reading He had an aptitude for kindling the fires of domestic harmony, but he had discovered overnight the futility of fanning a hearthstone blaze when the flue was choked so completely.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was extraordinary how wide awake Fred Starratt felt next morning.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the breakfast table he met his wife's advances with an air of tolerant aloofness.
