used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
affiliatenounUS /əˈfɪlieɪt/
a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is affiliated with another or with an organization
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
aloofnessnounUS /əˈluːfnəs/
indifference by personal withdrawal
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Was he ever one of his company while in it?
ConstitutionallyadverbUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃənəli/
according to the constitution
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
deliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
divisible by two
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
at any time
From this reading Was he ever one of his company while in it?
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
isolateverbUS /ˈaɪsəleɪt/
place or set apart
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was he ever one of his company while in it?
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Was he ever one of his company while in it?
and nothing more
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
reclusenounUS /rɪˈkluːs/
one who lives in solitude
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
shaftsnounUS /ʃæfts/
plural of “shaft” — a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
traitsnounUS /treɪts/
plural of “trait” — a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading He strove by disposition to be sunny and genial, traits not native to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a soft sadness in his smile, a reserve in his glance, telling how isolate he was.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Was he ever one of his company while in it?
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Constitutionally shy, recluse, melancholy, only by shafts of wit and flow of humor could he deliver himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was an aloofness, a _besides_, that refused to affiliate himself with himself, even.
