used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
(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 Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
Alton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
apathynounUS /ˈæpəθi/
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
devolvedverbUS /dɪˈvɑːlvd/
past form of “devolve” — pass on or delegate to another
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
depressingly dark
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
half-asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
and nothing more
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
in the recent past
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
necessitiesnounUS /nəˈsesɪtiz/
plural of “necessity” — the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
on one occasion
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
and nothing more
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
stimulusnounUS /ˈstɪmjələs/
any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
precisely as stated
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
