used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
connectionsnounUS /kəˈnekʃənz/
plural of “connection” — a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
conspiringverbUS /kənˈspaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “conspire” — engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
divisible by two
From this reading He did not even miss his secretary.
every person
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
a social unit living together
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Responsibilities were lifted from him.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
gratifyverbUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪ/
make happy or satisfied
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
held up in the air
From this reading Responsibilities were lifted from him.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading He did not even miss his secretary.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
not any; not one
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
Prohack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
RECEPTIONnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
ResponsibilitiesnounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Responsibilities were lifted from him.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading He did not even miss his secretary.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Indeed the family and its connections seemed to be conspiring to give him a life of ease.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE RECEPTION The reception pleased Mr. Prohack as a spectacle, and it cost him almost no trouble.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Responsibilities were lifted from him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He announced his decision that it must cost him no trouble, and everybody in the house, and a few people outside it, took him at his word--which did not wholly gratify him.
