used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
(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 _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
belongsverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋz/
third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
carelessnessnounUS /ˈkerləsnəs/
the quality of not being careful or taking pains
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
creativitynounUS /ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti/
the ability to create
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
Dennison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
discoveriesnounUS /dɪˈskʌvəriz/
plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
divisible by two
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
frustratingadjectiveUS /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪŋ/
discouraging by hindering
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
inchesnounUS /ˈɪntʃəz/
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
inventorsnounUS /ˌɪnˈventərz/
plural of “inventor” — someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
irksomeadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrksəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
conformity or harmony
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
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 There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
the force of workers available
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
not any; not one
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
paranoianounUS /ˌperəˈnɔɪə/
a psychological disorder characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
patentable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
silencedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənst/
reduced to silence
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
a person, without saying who
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
stakenounUS /steɪk/
(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading And he didn't even realize the full extent of his carelessness until a bullet, fired from a silenced weapon, chipped a granite wall not three inches from his head.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
at the time that
From this reading An inventor cannot afford carelessness, particularly when his invention is extremely valuable and obviously patentable.
which person or people
From this reading There are too many grasping hands ready to seize what belongs to someone else, too many men who feast upon the creativity of the innocent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Of all the irksome, frustrating, maddening discoveries--was there no way of keeping it discovered?_ With so much at stake, Charles Dennison should not have been careless.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A touch of paranoia would have served Dennison well; but he was lacking in that vital characteristic of inventors.
