used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
to come or go into
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
humiliatedadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪd/
subdued or brought low in condition or status
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
inadequacynounUS /ˌɪˈnædɪkwəsi/
lack of an adequate quantity or number
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
insupportableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈpɔːrtəbəl/
incapable of being justified or explained
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
lashverbUS /læʃ/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
One's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
outsetnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
pityingverbUS /ˈpɪtiɪŋ/
-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
scourgingverbUS /ˈskɜːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “scourge” — punish severely; excoriate
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
SethnounUS /seθ/
(Old Testament) third son of Adam and Eve; given by God in place of the murdered Abel
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
a state of acute pain
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
titanicadjectiveUS /taɪˈtænɪk/
of great force or power
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading To try to sleep did not enter his head.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
warrantnounUS /ˈwɔːrənt/
a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
From this reading One’s career must have been titanic in its tragic experiences to warrant such a comparison.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “I have never known before what suffering was,” he thought, as he paced up and down his little room, scourging himself with the lash of bitter reflections.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He said to himself that he had never before in his whole life been so humiliated and unhappy, and then smiled with pitying contempt for the inadequacy of such a statement of the case.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
wretchednessnoun
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading Seth had gone up to his room in a state of wretchedness which, seeming insupportable at the outset, had grown steadily worse upon reflection.
