used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
accountingnounUS /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/
a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
in the past
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
aristocracynounUS /ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
associateverbUS /əˈsoʊsiət/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
book-chat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
classesnounUS /ˈklæsəz/
plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
effervescentadjectiveUS /ˌefərˈvesənt/
used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
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 His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
the literary culture
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
magazinesnounUS /ˈmæɡəziːnz/
plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
the force of workers available
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
monopolynounUS /məˈnɑːpəli/
(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/
the property of a continuous and connected period of time
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
stimulatingadjectiveUS /ˈstɪmjəleɪtɪŋ/
rousing or quickening activity or the senses
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Durtal had difficulty accounting to himself for the persistence of this illusion.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading His sad experience led him to believe that every literary man belonged to one of two classes, the thoroughly commercial or the utterly impossible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were represented in books and in the book-chat columns of magazines as forming an aristocracy which had a monopoly on intelligence.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Their conversation, if one believed what one read, sparkled with effervescent and stimulating wit.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
a late time of life
From this reading Nearly two years ago Durtal had ceased to associate with men of letters.
