used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
(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 All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
Blake'snounUS /bleɪks/
possessive form of “blake” — visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
complexnounUS /ˈkɑːmpleks/
a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
damnounUS /dæm/
a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
one or the other of two
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
encouragingadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/
giving courage or confidence or hope
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
engineer-inventor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
Genevieve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
GriffithnounUS /ˈɡrɪfəθ/
United States film maker who was the first to use flashbacks and fade-outs (1875-1948)
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
headwaynounUS /ˈhedweɪ/
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/
cause to arise
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
engage in
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
ODDSnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
overtimenounUS /ˈoʊvərtaɪm/
work done in addition to regular working hours
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
permittingverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
re-doubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
not in physical motion
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But still the engineer-inventor failed to make the headway he had expected toward the solution of the complex and intricate problem of the dam.
urgingsnounUS /ˈɜːrdʒɪŋz/
plural of “urging” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
precisely as stated
From this reading All the urgings of Griffith and Lord James could not induce him to cease driving himself to the very limit of endurance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HEAVY ODDS For a few days Lord James was able to bring Genevieve encouraging reports of a vast improvement in Blake's spirits.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading His meals he either went without or took at his desk.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In consequence, he re-doubled his efforts and worked overtime, permitting himself less than four hours of sleep a night.
