used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
astrologynounUS /əˈstrɑːlədʒi/
a pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moon
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
chemistrynounUS /ˈkeməstri/
the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
dabblingverbUS /ˈdæbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “dabble” — dip a foot or hand briefly into a liquid
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
eccentricitiesnounUS /ˌeksenˈtrɪsɪtiz/
plural of “eccentricity” — strange and unconventional behavior
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
someone who hunts game
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
jack-of-all-trades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
kindredadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndrɪd/
similar in quality or character
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
millinernounUS /ˈmɪlɪnər/
someone who makes and sells hats
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
not able to be found
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
Percy'snounUS /ˈpɜːrsiz/
possessive form of “percy” — United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
professedadjectiveUS /prəˈfest/
professing to be qualified
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
sciencesnounUS /ˈsaɪənsəz/
plural of “science” — a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
spiritualismnounUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəlɪzəm/
(theology) any doctrine that asserts the separate existence of God
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
ventriloquismnoun
the art of projecting your voice so that it seems to come from another source (as from a ventriloquist's dummy)
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
Vere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Percy Vere explained this mission to the old hunter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was an eccentric character, and professed spiritualism, astrology, ventriloquism, and kindred sciences, dabbling a little in magic and chemistry.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In fact, he was a universal genius—a jack-of-all-trades, and not doing well with any.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Percy’s mother was a woman of ability and good sense, a first rate milliner, and her industry kept the wolf, which the father’s eccentricities brought to the door, away.
a late time of life
From this reading His father had been missing for years.
