used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
absorbverbUS /əbˈzɔːrb/
become imbued
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
amountedverbUS /əˈmaʊntɪd/
past form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
anecdotesnounUS /ˈænəkdoʊts/
plural of “anecdote” — short account of an incident (especially a biographical one)
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
entertainverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪn/
provide entertainment for
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
morosenessnoun
a gloomy ill-tempered feeling
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
not any; not one
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading On the contrary, his silence amounted almost to moroseness, and he had not always answered my questions.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
underwentverbUS /ˌʌndərˈwent/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading But immediately we had started on this new expedition his manner underwent a complete change.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading During the earlier part of the evening, since we had left the hotel, my companion had shown no disposition to talk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He seemed to lay himself out with feverish eagerness to entertain me and to absorb my attention.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you're not tired," he said suddenly, at the end of one of his anecdotes.
