used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
the state of being absent
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
brought into existence
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
dullnessnounUS /ˈdʌlnəs/
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
elusiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
a social unit living together
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
not accessible to view
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
kinshipnounUS /ˈkɪnʃɪp/
a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
lessenedadjectiveUS /ˈlesənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
ORCHARDnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
PerrynounUS /ˈperi/
United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
with speed
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
reboundedverbUS /riˈbaʊndɪd/
past form of “rebound” — spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
reliancenounUS /rɪˈlaɪəns/
certainty based on past experience
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
ruraladjectiveUS /ˈrʊrəl/
living in or characteristic of farming or country life
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON AN ORCHARD SLOPE Fred moved off across the fields in quest of Perry.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
veinnounUS /veɪn/
a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
precisely as stated
From this reading In the very soil itself, he felt a kinship, born of a hidden, elusive, cramped vein of poetic feeling that lay deep in his nature.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Charles never left him wholly happy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His long absence from home had in a way lessened his reliance on family ties, and an interview with his brother deepened the sense of his own dullness.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
worthlessnessnoun
having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
but in spite of that
From this reading He wondered whether it were not proof of his general worthlessness that he was so quickly adjusting himself to the conditions of rural life; and yet from such reflections his spirit quickly rebounded.
