used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
attentionsnounUS /əˈtenʃənz/
plural of “attention” — the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
borrowverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊ/
get temporarily
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
CleopatranounUS /ˌkliːəˈpætrə/
beautiful and charismatic queen of Egypt; mistress of Julius Caesar and later of Mark Antony; killed herself to avoid capture by Octavian (69-30 BC)
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
Cleopatra'snounUS /ˌkliːəˈpætrəz/
possessive form of “cleopatra” — beautiful and charismatic queen of Egypt; mistress of Julius Caesar and later of Mark Antony; killed herself to avoid capture by Octavian (69-30 BC)
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
divisible by two
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
set up or found
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
groundlessadjectiveUS /ˈɡraʊndləs/
without a basis in reason or fact
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
identifyverbUS /aɪˈdentəfaɪ/
recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
neighbornounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
not any; not one
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
on one occasion
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
OutlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
on the contrary
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
slightinglyadverb
in a disparaging manner
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
express in speech
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the time I was entirely absorbed in "The Outline of History."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
UnfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by bad luck
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was certainly a groundless suspicion.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Unfortunately we have no adequate idea of Cleopatra's appearance.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
WellsnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
at the time that
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
in or at the place that
From this reading Once, when my neighbor found me at the door of his apartment, where I had gone to borrow half an orange, he seemed unusually surly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
XnounUS /eks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Mrs. X--of course I can't give her name or even provide any description which might serve to identify her--was entirely safe from my attentions, for during that particular week I was rather taken with Cleopatra, even though Wells did speak slightingly of her.
