used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
accidentaladjectiveUS /ˌæksəˈdentəl/
happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
administeredverbUS /ədˈmɪnəstərd/
past form of “administer” — work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
barristernounUS /ˈbærɪstər/
a British or Canadian lawyer who speaks in the higher courts of law on behalf of either the defense or prosecution
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
capriciousadjectiveUS /kəˈprɪʃəs/
changeable
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
an occurrence of something
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
exclusivelyadverbUS /ɪkˈskluːsɪvli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
facernounUS /ˈfeɪsər/
(a dated Briticism) a serious difficulty with which one is suddenly faced
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
gistnounUS /dʒɪst/
the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
legaladjectiveUS /ˈliːɡəl/
established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
Maxon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
partakeverbUS /pɑːrˈteɪk/
have some of the qualities or attributes of something
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It preserved as much of the preliminary and the accidental as of the real gist of the matter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They dined out at the house of a learned judge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Fortune used him in the cause of irony.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A CASE OF NECESSITY Mrs. Maxon's memory of the evening on which she administered to her husband his "awful facer" was capricious.
which person or people
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The party was exclusively legal, but the conversation of the young barrister who fell to her lot did not partake of that complexion.
