used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
CHASEverbUS /tʃeɪs/
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading MARTIN'S WILD-GOOSE CHASE.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
characterized by great determination
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
HurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
in the recent past
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
engage in
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
MARTIN'SnounUS /ˈmɑːrtənz/
possessive form of “martin” — French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading MARTIN'S WILD-GOOSE CHASE.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
mutualadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/
common to or shared by two or more parties
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
reflectverbUS /rɪˈflekt/
manifest or bring back
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
step-children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
WILD-GOOSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTIN'S WILD-GOOSE CHASE.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Probably nothing could have given Martin greater pleasure than this unexpected meeting with his step-children.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He did not reflect that the pleasure might not be mutual, but determined to make himself known without delay.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Hurrying forward, he placed one hand on the shoulder of Rufus, saying, "Glad to see you, Rufus; what have you been up to lately?
