used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading What she said was another matter.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
any thing at all
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
consecutiveadjectiveUS /kənˈsɛk.jə.tɪv/
Following continuously in unbroken sequence.
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
consecutivelyadverbUS /kənˈsekjətɪvli/
in a consecutive manner
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
conspicuousadjectiveUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəs/
obvious to the eye or mind
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
command with authority
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
lapseverbUS /læps/
pass into a specified state or condition
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading What she said was another matter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
querulousadjectiveUS /ˈkwerələs/
habitually complaining
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
rationallyadverbUS /ˈræʃənəli/
in a rational manner
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
recordedadjectiveUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪd/
set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
resentmentnounUS /rɪˈzentmənt/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading What she said was another matter.
witty remark
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had never been conspicuous for her ability in that direction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading What Patty really thought about the provisions of her father's will is not recorded.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Indeed, it is doubtful whether she had anything more nearly approaching consecutive thought on the subject than a vague resentment toward Sally and a querulous disposition to find fault with her.
a late time of life
From this reading For, with the lapse of years, Patty was becoming less and less able to think rationally--to direct her thoughts--or to think consecutively on any subject.
