used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
affabilitynoun
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
(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 (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
essencenounUS /ˈesəns/
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
FloodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
Lessard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
LYN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYN.
MacRae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
martinetnoun
someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
punchingverbUS /ˈpʌntʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “punch” — deliver a quick blow to
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
on the contrary
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
precisely as stated
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
WhereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
which person or people
From this reading (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud head, for all that; it was a dirty way to serve a man who had done his level best.)
in the company of; together with
From this reading Whereas Lessard had acted the martinet with MacRae, he took another tack and became the very essence of affability toward me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Rather unfortunate happening for you, Flood," he began.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I think, however, that we shall eventually get your money back."
