used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
applicableadjectiveUS /ˈæpləkəbəl/
capable of being applied; having relevance
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
hackneyedadjectiveUS /ˈhæknid/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
an occurrence of something
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
interviewsnounUS /ˈɪntərvjuːz/
plural of “interview” — the questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
NIHILISTnoun
someone who rejects all theories of morality or religious belief
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
not any; not one
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
paradoxicaladjectiveUS /ˌperəˈdɑːksɪkəl/
seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
in the near future
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
refrainedverbUS /rɪˈfreɪnd/
past form of “refrain” — resist doing something
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed the conversation.
RussianounUS /ˈrʌʃə/
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
SiberianounUS /saɪˈbɪriə/
a vast Asian region of Russia; famous for long cold winters
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
similenoun
a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with “like” or “as”)
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
SPYverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading It was certainly paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking questions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE NIHILIST SPY The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be especially applicable in the present instance.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/
lacking kindness
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In one breath I was told that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying (?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not unkind.
