used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
adversitynounUS /ədˈvɝː.sə.t̬i/
Difficulties; misfortune and hardship faced with courage.
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
AltarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
comicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪk/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
in a serious manner
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
Frencham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
the act of departing
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
the act of retaining something
From this reading HOLDING OUT.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
the sound of laughing
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
engage in
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading HOLDING OUT.
palnounUS /pæl/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
providesverbUS /prəˈvaɪdz/
third-person singular of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Richard Frencham Altar had a sense of humour but never before in his hitherto easy going life had he so earnestly needed it.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Each day provided something new in the matter of discomfort or alarm.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A sense of humour in a queer abstract way provides a quality of companionship--it gives a man the power to be a pal to himself--to talk to himself aloud--to laugh at adversity--to spot the comic side in the most pathetic predicament.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The calls he was obliged to make upon his resources of humour were therefore severe and exacting.
