used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
for the reason that
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
the lower side of anything
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
brevitynounUS /ˈbrevəti/
the use of brief expressions
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that at least would make no difference.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
compromisingadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
making or willing to make concessions
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
DolphinnounUS /ˈdɑːlfən/
large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
fitnessnounUS /ˈfɪtnəs/
the quality of being suitable
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
HeadwaynounUS /ˈhedweɪ/
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But that at least would make no difference.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
engage in
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
not any; not one
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
and nothing more
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
presumablyadverbUS /prəˈzuːməbli/
by reasonable assumption
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
requestedadjectiveUS /rɪˈkwestɪd/
asked for
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
a male human offspring
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
refrain from harming
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It made a difference only in what was at the bottom of all things—his own sense of fitness.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
which person or people
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He only wished he had driven it home that Mrs. Headway would probably be for her son a capital wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He requested his sister, who had wondered greatly at the brevity of his interview with her friend, to spare him all questions on the subject; and Mrs. Dolphin went about for some days in the happy faith that there were to be no dreadful Americans in English society compromising her native land.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He felt no discomfort, no remorse, at what he had said; he only felt relief—presumably because he believed it would make no difference.
