used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
annoyverbUS /əˈnɔɪ/
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
Bickersdyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
without stop or interruption
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
characterized by great determination
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
endeavournounUS /ɪnˈdevər/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
in a gradual manner
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
something that is lost
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — 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 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
not any; not one
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
and nothing more
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
by chance
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
Psmith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
To recall to mind.
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
richeradjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃər/
comparative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
precisely, exactly
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
term of address for a man
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to me--' 'That is enough, Mr Smith.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading I confess that I am absolutely at a loss to understand you--' 'It is too true, sir,' sighed Psmith.
warmingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːrmɪŋ/
imparting heat
From this reading 'You seem,' continued Mr Bickersdyke, warming to his subject, and turning gradually a richer shade of purple, 'you seem to be determined to endeavour to annoy me.'
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ('No no,' from Psmith.) 'I can only assume that you are not in your right senses.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading 'It was, perhaps, mistaken zeal on my part, sir, but you must remember that I acted purely from the best motives.
