used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A REPRIEVE.
the state of being absent
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
financenounUS /fəˈnæns/
the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
set up or found
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
InheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
rackverbUS /ræk/
go at a rack
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
REPRIEVEnounUS /riˈpriːv/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading A REPRIEVE.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
Sophy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
confined on all sides
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
uncle'snounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading It was impossible that he could forget Sophy, but he felt more willing to forget her than to rack his brains over the silence and mystery that surrounded her absence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had been a busy and exciting time with him, and he had had little leisure to brood over his private difficulties.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Inherited instinct awoke within him a love of finance and commerce.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Three months passed by, and found Sidney Martin fairly at work in his uncle's office.
