used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
bafflesnounUS /ˈbæfəlz/
plural of “baffle” — a flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
chemicalsnounUS /ˈkemɪkəlz/
plural of “chemical” — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
fineradjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnər/
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
greedinessnoun
an excessive desire for food
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
KATHERINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
most important element
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
and nothing more
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
used to form the superlative
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
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 You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
muddlenounUS /ˈmʌdəl/
a confused multitude of things
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
not divisible by two
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
reactionsnounUS /riˈækʃənz/
plural of “reaction” — (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
express a supposition
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They are far harder to know; there is a queer element of muddle about them that baffles one.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
unreliableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/
liable to be erroneous or misleading
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
VARICK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
precisely as stated
From this reading TOLD BY KATHERINE VARICK A BRANCH OF STUDY People are very odd, unreliable, and irregular in their actions and reactions.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I suppose that merely means that one doesn't know them so well.
at the time that
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading You never know when greediness--the main element in most of us--will stop working, checked by something else, some finer, quite different motive force.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can't count on them as you can on chemicals.
