used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
any thing at all
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
basicadjectiveUS /ˈbeɪsɪk/
pertaining to or constituting a base or basis
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He was in a field which was entirely familiar.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He was in a field which was entirely familiar.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading He was in a field which was entirely familiar.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
usually; as a rule
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was in a field which was entirely familiar.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
Lester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
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 could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
peculiaritynounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerəti/
an odd or unusual characteristic
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
propositionnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
propositionsnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “proposition” — (logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
RossnounUS /rɑːs/
Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856)
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Lester was not convinced at first, although, generally speaking, he was interested in real estate propositions.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could convince almost any able man if he could get his ear sufficiently long to lay his facts before him.
undertookverbUS /ˌʌndərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The peculiarity of this particular proposition was that it had the basic elements of success.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Ross had the experience and the judgment which were quite capable of making a success of almost anything he undertook.
