used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
alternativesnounUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvz/
plural of “alternative” — one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
for the reason that
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
degreesnounUS /dɪˈɡriːz/
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
dissectverbUS /daɪˈsekt/
cut open or cut apart
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
dissectingverbUS /daɪˈsektɪŋ/
-ing form of “dissect” — cut open or cut apart
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
one or the other of two
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
to an extreme degree
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It’s only a matter of practice and experience."
and nothing more
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
joined in matrimony
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
marryingverbUS /ˈmeriɪŋ/
-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It’s only a matter of practice and experience."
the force of workers available
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
and nothing more
From this reading It’s only a matter of practice and experience."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading It’s only a matter of practice and experience."
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
with speed
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
Silvette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
a source of difficulty
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
unpopularadjectiveUS /ˌʌnˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with disfavor or lacking general approval
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
at the time that
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
which person or people
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why those terrible alternatives?" he asked, laughing.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "We’re too intelligent," said Silvette calmly; "that’s the trouble with us; and when, by degrees, we add a little more experience to our intelligence we’ll be either exceedingly unpopular or—successfully married."
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "Because the man who is able to endure us will probably be worth the bother of marrying—when we’ve finished dissecting him.
but in spite of that
From this reading We don’t know just how to dissect men yet, but we’re rapidly learning.
