used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
CONSEQUENCESnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/
plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
CULTIVATIONnounUS /ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/
socialization through training and education to develop one's mind or manners
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
diversionnounUS /daɪˈvɜːrʒən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
set up or found
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
healernounUS /ˈhiːlər/
a person skilled in a particular type of therapy
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
many times at short intervals
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
by chance
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
a general conscious awareness
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
carry out
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
ungrammaticaladjective
not grammatical; not conforming to the rules of grammar or accepted usage
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Time hung heavily on my hands and I thought too much about myself, as usual.
VICESnounUS /ˈvaɪsəz/
plural of “vice” — moral weakness
From this reading THE CULTIVATION OF A FEW VICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A mental healer had told me that I was too imaginative and thought of too many different things.
at the time that
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When I found that I couldn't possibly do nothing--I do not mean this in the ungrammatical sense in which it is so often used--I thought I would be obliged to take up some new calling or diversion.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading He said: "A part of the time try to think of absolutely nothing; think of yourself."
