used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
abidingadjectiveUS /əˈbaɪdɪŋ/
lasting a long time
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already his father was growing impatient.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/
Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
ColesnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “cole” — a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
the specified day of the month
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
disgracedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡreɪst/
suffering shame
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
displeasingadjective
causing displeasure or lacking pleasing qualities
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
at any time
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
to an extreme degree
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
exemplaryadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzempləri/
worthy of imitation
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Already his father was growing impatient.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
helpfulnessnoun
the property of providing useful assistance
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Already his father was growing impatient.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
of great significance or value
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
not any; not one
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
paternaladjectiveUS /pəˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or inherited from one's father
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
proverbialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɜːrbiəl/
of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
RoenounUS /roʊ/
fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
school'snounUS /skuːlz/
possessive form of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
securingverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
shillingnounUS /ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The notion that he was having to await the school’s pleasure before securing their obedience was to him exceedingly displeasing.
urgingnounUS /ˈɜːrdʒɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
at the time that
From this reading The exemplary patience he had displayed when first the helpfulness of Coles had come before his notice had not proved of an abiding nature.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
WoolfnounUS /wʊlf/
English author whose work used such techniques as stream of consciousness and the interior monologue; prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group (1882-1941)
From this reading THE FIRST ROUND Christopher Woolf Roe was in a painful predicament.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
From this reading Behind him, urging him on, he felt the hot breath of impending paternal wrath, and knew that if he failed in this, the most important duty his father had ever set him, he would be disgraced; as likely as not he would at no far distant date be cut off with the proverbial shilling.
