used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading They were as little as possible alone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were as little as possible alone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
BLOTnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
DebtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading “Debt is theft,” thought Otto.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
Gerard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Debt is theft,” thought Otto.
jarredverbUS /dʒɑːrd/
inflected form of “jar” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
the sound of laughing
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
lightheartednessnoun
the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were as little as possible alone.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
Otto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Debt is theft,” thought Otto.
Otto's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They were as little as possible alone.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His very laugh, so easy, so frequent, jarred on Otto’s hearing.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading “Debt is theft,” thought Otto.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Debt is theft,” thought Otto.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Gradually, however, Gerard’s persistent lightheartedness produced the opposite effect of a dead weight on the other man.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were as little as possible alone.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE BLOT ON THE SNOW The brothers got on very well at first; they sat silent or talked about things which interested neither.
