used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
(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 But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been only a temporary stopping.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
dullnessnounUS /ˈdʌlnəs/
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
effeteadjectiveUS /eˈfiːt/
affected, overrefined, and effeminate
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
one or the other of two
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
ErnstnounUS /ɜːrnst/
painter (born in Germany, resident of France and the United States) who was a cofounder of dadaism; developed the technique of collage (1891-1976)
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
a state of high honor
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
coins made of gold
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been only a temporary stopping.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
and nothing more
From this reading It would have been only a temporary stopping.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
a human being
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
regaladjectiveUS /ˈriːɡəl/
belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
From this reading Now a gold crown, regal person, had fallen on the hollow.
self-lashings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desperate at dullness, he betook himself to self-lashings.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
that is looked for
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading It would have been only a temporary stopping.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading It would have been only a temporary stopping.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading But his nature was an effete machine and incapable of working on all that glory.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His nature would probably have sought to fill up the wide, shallow gap left by Ernst and earlier ties either by another Ernst or, more likely, a variety of matter.
