used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
ArchitectnounUS /ˈɑːrkətekt/
someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
aspirings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His aspirings drooped earthward.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
BuildernounUS /ˈbɪldər/
a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
droopedverbUS /druːpt/
past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading His aspirings drooped earthward.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
earthward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His aspirings drooped earthward.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
a state of high honor
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
IdealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
LeonardnounUS /ˈlenərd/
United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
moulded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
overpoweringadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈpaʊrɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
cut with a saw
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leonard had been three or four times to see her, and each time she saw a change in him that excited all her fears.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
usesnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/
plural of “use” — the act of using
From this reading He had not mastered the Practical, and moulded its uses with the strong hand of the Spiritual Architect, of the Ideal Builder; the Practical was overpowering himself.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Helen was seized with profound and anxious sadness.
worldly-wiseadjective
experienced in and wise to the ways of the world
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading He seemed, it is true, more shrewd, more worldly-wise, more fitted, it might be, for coarse daily life; but, on the other hand, the freshness and glory of his youth were waning slowly.