used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
anew
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
BohemiannounUS /boʊˈhiːmiən/
a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
bronzedadjectiveUS /brɑːnzd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
disciplenounUS /dɪˈsaɪpəl/
someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
set up or found
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
golfnounUS /ɡɑːlf/
a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
inclinationsnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “inclination” — an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
JacobnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
liberaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪbɜːrəl/
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
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 He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
the force of workers available
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
not any; not one
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
patronnounUS /ˈpeɪtrən/
a regular customer
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
pursuitsnounUS /pərˈsuːts/
plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
theatresnounUS /ˈθiːətərz/
plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
theatricaladjectiveUS /θiˈætrɪkəl/
of or relating to the theater
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
a special situation
From this reading Jacob found life, for the next few months, an easy and a pleasant thing.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
in the direction of
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
nonexistent
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
wateringnounUS /ˈwɔːtərɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
accept gladly
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
in or at the place that
From this reading He took a prolonged summer holiday and made many acquaintances at a fashionable French watering place, where he devoted more time to golf than gambling, but made something of a reputation at both pursuits.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
which person or people
From this reading He was brought into contact with a certain number of wealthy men in the city, who occasionally asked him to their homes, but here again he was conscious of disappointment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He came back to London bronzed and in excellent health, but always with a curious sense of something wanting in his life, an emptiness of purpose, which he could never altogether shake off.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was a liberal patron of the theatres, but he had no inclinations towards theatrical society, or the easy Bohemian circles amongst which he would have been such a welcome disciple.
