used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
amiableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmiəbəl/
disposed to please
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
countrymennounUS /ˈkʌntrimɪn/
plural of “countryman” — a man from your own country
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
deficientadjectiveUS /dɪˈfɪʃənt/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
divined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
divisible by two
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
jostlingnounUS /ˈdʒɑːsəlɪŋ/
the act of jostling (forcing your way by pushing)
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
a room where books are kept
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
the force of workers available
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
on the contrary
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading He ought rather to have been a quiet scholar, and dreamed away long days in his library,—“the world forgetting, by the world forgot.”
strikinglyadverbUS /ˈstraɪkɪŋli/
in a striking manner
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
traitsnounUS /treɪts/
plural of “trait” — a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
unpromisingadjectiveUS /ənˈprɔːmɪsɪŋ/
unlikely to bring about favorable results or enjoyment
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
under normal conditions
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was an amiable man, but strikingly deficient in those practical traits which usually mark our countrymen and command success even under the most unpromising circumstances.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The character of Robert Ford may be divined without much difficulty from the glimpses which have already been given.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He was not a man to succeed in business, nor suited for the rough jostling with the world which business men must expect.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Such would have been his choice if his circumstances had been easy.
