used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
assignedadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/
appointed to a post or duty
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
electricitynounUS /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/
a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
fianceenounUS /fiˈænsi/
a woman who is engaged to be married
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
hobbiesnounUS /ˈhɑːbiz/
plural of “hobby” — an auxiliary activity
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
how's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
inditedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪtɪd/
past form of “indite” — produce a literary work
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
not any; not one
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
with low volume
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
RutherfordnounUS /ˈrʌθərfərd/
a unit strength of a radioactive source equal to one million disintegrations per second
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
up to a particular time
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading That night the diminutive lamp that did duty in the room assigned to the two brothers burned till long past the hour of midnight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No," was the reply, "I am thinking at present of a force far more subtle and more powerful than that of electricity."
look attentively
From this reading "Getting up another article on the application of electric force?" inquired Ned, as he paused to watch his brother.
at the time that
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading By its dim light, Ned Rutherford indited a letter to his fiancee, while his brother quietly paced back and forth, the entire length of the small apartment, his hands clasped behind him and his head thrown back,--his usual attitude when in deep thought.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, how's that?" asked Ned in surprise, "I thought electricity was one of your pet hobbies."
