used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
(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 The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
bourgeoisadjectiveUS /bʊrʒˈwɑː/
(according to Marxist thought) being of the property-owning class and exploitive of the working class
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
Clerambault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
Clerambault's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
complainsverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnz/
third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
condolencesnounUS /kənˈdoʊlənsəz/
plural of “condolence” — an expression of sympathy with another's grief
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
defendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈfendɪŋ/
attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
disgraces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
epidemicnounUS /ˌepəˈdemɪk/
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
an established custom
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
impressionableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənəbəl/
easily impressed or influenced
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
interceptedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈseptəd/
past form of “intercept” — seize on its way
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
for more time
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
not any; not one
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
ParisianadjectiveUS /pərˈɪʒən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Paris or its inhabitants
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/
a country person
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
pocketbooknounUS /ˈpɑːkətbʊk/
your personal financial means
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
postaladjectiveUS /ˈpoʊstəl/
of or relating to the system for delivering mail
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
express in speech
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
spiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
express in words
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading Clerambault was always the Parisian in their eyes; he belonged to another tribe, and if they had thoughts, they would not tell them to him.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
not known
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mind of Clerambault was alien to all this; he and these people did not speak the same language.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
at the time that
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
which person or people
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All was silence; he had friends unknown, and at a distance, who tried to communicate with him, but their voices were intercepted by postal spies--one of the disgraces of our time.
the words that are spoken
From this reading This lack of response stifled Clerambault's words; impressionable as he was, he could no longer hear himself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They exchanged some vague condolences, but when he is talking to a _bourgeois_ a peasant always complains; it is a habit, a way of defending himself against a possible appeal to his pocketbook; they would have talked in the same way about an epidemic of fever.
