used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
chessnounUS /tʃes/
weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
cinemanounUS /ˈsɪnəmə/
a medium that disseminates moving pictures
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
clarifiedverbUS /ˈklerəfaɪd/
inflected form of “clarify” — make clear and (more) comprehensible
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
coordinatedadjectiveUS /koʊˈɔːrdəneɪtɪd/
operating as a unit
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
green-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
Malcolm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
morocconounUS /mərˈɑːkoʊ/
a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
on one occasion
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
SagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
term of address for a man
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
smoking-jacket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
solitairenounUS /ˌsɑːləˈter/
a gem (usually a diamond) in a setting by itself
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
sourcesnounUS /ˈsɔːrsəz/
plural of “source” — the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
stimulateverbUS /ˈstɪmjəleɪt/
act as a stimulant
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
unfailingadjectiveUS /ənˈfeɪlɪŋ/
not liable to failure
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
under normal conditions
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading The fact that in the surrounding darkness were hundreds of other brains, vital and active, appeared to stimulate his own imagination.
WaltonnounUS /ˈwɔːltən/
English composer (1902-1983)
From this reading He had once told Sir James Walton that they clarified his brain and coordinated his thoughts, the cinema in particular.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I Malcolm Sage was seated at a small green-covered table playing solitaire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
at the time that
From this reading Patience, chess, and the cinema were his unfailing sources of inspiration when engaged upon a more than usually difficult case.
wine-colourednoun
a red as dark as red wine
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading A velvet smoking-jacket and a pair of wine-coloured morocco slippers suggested that the day's work was done.
