used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
abhorrentadjectiveUS /æbˈhɔːrənt/
offensive to the mind
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
aggrievedverbUS /əˈɡriːvd/
past form of “aggrieve” — infringe on the rights of
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
(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 She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
unvarying in nature
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
depressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈprest/
lower than previously
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
Dudley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
inevitablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbli/
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
miscomprehension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
mustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
poutedverbUS /ˈpaʊtɪd/
past form of “pout” — be in a huff and display one's displeasure
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
rebelnounUS /ˈrebəl/
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
retrospectivenounUS /ˌretrəˈspektɪv/
an exhibition of a representative selection of an artist's life work
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His full lips pouted despairingly beneath his neat mustache shining in the glare, and there was an aggrieved expression in his small sparkling eyes.
a special situation
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
vividnessnounUS /ˈvɪvədnəs/
interest and variety and intensity
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dudley was more and more depressed by the constant terrible fear of having made himself ludicrous.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She seemed to have become a part of all the abhorrent elements that were commonplace in his past, elements against which his romantic conception of his destiny led him to rebel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The most disconcerting thing was the sudden retrospective vividness of his physical intimacy with Julia.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He said to himself that neither Julia nor her husband would understand him, and he must suffer the miscomprehension of his motives which would inevitably result from their lesser experience.
