used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
contriving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
recognizable; marked
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
lap-robe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/
a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
reader'snounUS /ˈriːdərz/
possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
shynessnounUS /ˈʃaɪnəs/
a feeling of fear of embarrassment
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
not in physical motion
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
express in words
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
a special situation
From this reading It is the reader's privilege to determine for himself how the thing came out.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We gave it up, and decided to let her continue to reach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meantime Mary was still reaching for the lap-robe.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading We worked at the troublesome problem until three in the morning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If asked to explain his conduct, his shyness would not allow him to tell the truth, and lack of invention and practice would find him incapable of contriving a lie that would wash.
