used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
(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 In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
assignedadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/
appointed to a post or duty
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
divisible by two
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
excellencenounUS /ˈeksələns/
the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
forbearancenounUS /fɔːrˈberəns/
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
frictionnounUS /ˈfrɪkʃən/
a state of conflict between persons
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
usually; as a rule
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
gentlenessnounUS /ˈdʒentəlnəs/
the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
grumblers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
intentionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃənz/
plural of “intention” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
set down according to a plan
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
not any; not one
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
and nothing more
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
win a victory over
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/
blessed with privileges
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
cut with a saw
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No special cause was assigned for this state of things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
which person or people
From this reading There was not much said about it, even by the privileged grumblers among them, for a while, and the people who made the best of things generally saw only what was to be expected.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading In the best laid plans there will be some points of doubtful excellence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In all new arrangements there will be grating and friction which cannot even with the best intentions be at first overcome.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The only way was to have patience and be ready with "the oil of gentleness and the feather of forbearance," so as to give a touch here or there as it was needed, and everything would be sure to move smoothly after a while.
