used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
afflictionnounUS /əˈflɪkʃən/
a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
(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 Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
automatonnounUS /ɔːˈtɑːmətɑːn/
someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
defyverbUS /dɪˈfaɪ/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
derangementnoun
a state of mental disturbance and disorientation
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
dummynounUS /ˈdʌmi/
a person who does not talk
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
fadesnounUS /feɪdz/
plural of “fade” — a golf shot that curves to the right for a right-handed golfer
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
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 Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
engage in
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
easily agitated
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
not any; not one
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
nonentitynounUS /nɑːˈnentəti/
the state of not existing
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
pathologicaladjectiveUS /ˌpæθəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
of or relating to the practice of pathology
From this reading All this, yes; but nothing pathological.
by chance
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
presentmentnounUS /priˈzentmənt/
an accusation of crime made by a grand jury on its own initiative
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
with speed
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
spontaneousadjectiveUS /spɑːnˈteɪniəs/
happening or arising without apparent external cause
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Disappointed, therefore, you may certainly be; but I defy you to discover the smallest hint of mental disorder, and of derangement or nervous affliction, absolutely nothing.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this, yes; but nothing pathological.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
look attentively
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
well-trained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before long, perhaps, you may feel you are talking with a dummy, some well-trained automaton, a nonentity devoid of spontaneous life; and afterwards you may find that memory fades rapidly away, as though no impression of any kind has really been made at all.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading You may wonder why something continually expected does not make its appearance; and you may watch for the evidence of ‘personality’ the general presentment of the man has led you to expect.
an affirmative
From this reading All this, yes; but nothing pathological.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading At closer quarters you may think questioning things, or you may think--nothing; probably the latter.
