used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
on or to one side
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
Briggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
despairedverbUS /dɪˈsperd/
past form of “despair” — abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
dumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Slowly the strong man had returned to life once more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
not any; not one
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
on one occasion
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
over-weighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/
a formal and solemn declaration of objection
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
raveverbUS /reɪv/
participate in an all-night techno dance party
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Slowly the strong man had returned to life once more.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly the strong man had returned to life once more.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Slowly the strong man had returned to life once more.
stupiditynounUS /stuːˈpɪdɪtiː/
a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He did not rave or protest; Fate had no power to move him more; the point of anguish was passed, and in its place succeeded a dumb stupidity more terrible by far, though far more blessed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It was some three weeks after this before Briggs was able to assume his duties.
which person or people
From this reading More than once they despaired of his life--Professor Stone and Vance, who had put aside his own grief to care for his friend.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The sudden shock of the news of his wife’s death over-weighted a brain already strained to the utmost.
