used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
abstinencenounUS /ˈæbstənəns/
the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
battlesnounUS /ˈbætəlz/
plural of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
calculatinglyadverb
in a calculating manner
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
colderadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldər/
comparative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
Conover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
creednounUS /kriːd/
any system of principles or beliefs
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
well in the past; former
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
dictatedadjectiveUS /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/
determined or decided upon as by an authority
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
dictatesnounUS /dɪkˈteɪts/
plural of “dictate” — an authoritative rule
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
diplomatnounUS /ˈdɪpləmæt/
an official engaged in international negotiations
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
take in liquids
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The effort had been irksome.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
the organ of sight
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
an established custom
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
inviolateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪəlɪt/
(of a woman) having the hymen unbroken
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
irksomeadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrksəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading The effort had been irksome.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
engage in
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
used to form the superlative
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The love of strong drink ran high in his blood.
tenetsnounUS /ˈtenəts/
plural of “tenet” — a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
propel through the air
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
totalverbUS /ˈtoʊtəl/
add up in number or quantity
From this reading In the second, he had departed from his fixed habit of total abstinence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
belonging to which person
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
the words that are spoken
From this reading In the first place, he—whose battles had for the most part been won by the cold eye that told nothing, and by the colder brain that dictated the words of his every-day speech as calculatingly as a diplomat dictates a letter of state—he had forced himself to throw away his guard and to chatter and make himself agreeable like any bargain counter clerk.
a late time of life
From this reading Conover had broken, that night, two rules that had for years formed inviolate tenets of his life creed.
