used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
aspireverbUS /əˈspaɪr/
have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
crystallizationnoun
the formation of crystals
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
dicenounUS /daɪs/
a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading What madness to flout fate!"
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
floutverbUS /flaʊt/
treat with contemptuous disregard
From this reading What madness to flout fate!"
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
an established custom
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
inexorablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈneksərəbli/
in an inexorable manner
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
laurelsnounUS /ˈlɔːrəlz/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading What madness to flout fate!"
mathematicsnounUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
and nothing more
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
Orme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
predeterminedadjectiveUS /ˌpriːdiˈtɜːrmɪnd/
set in advance
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
express in speech
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Mrs. Orme laid down her pen as she spoke, and leaned back in her chair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "No, I was merely thinking aloud; a foolish habit I have contracted since I began to aspire to literary laurels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What madness to flout fate!"
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
Waulverb
make high-pitched, whiney noises
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "'The dice of the gods are always loaded,' and what appears the merest chance is as inexorably fixed, predetermined, as the rules of mathematics, or the laws of crystallization.
which person or people
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
worstednounUS /ˈwɜːrstɪd/
a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns "he wore a worsted suit"
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Did you speak to me?" inquired Mrs. Waul, who had been nodding over her worsted work, and was aroused by the sound of the voice.
