Chapter XIV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

later than; following

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

making worse

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

(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 He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

great and constant diligence and attention

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

someone who is no longer popular

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

brought into existence

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

past form of “conspire” — engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

negotiation between nations

From this reading DIPLOMACY MR.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

repetitive and persistent

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading In short, Mr. Smith-Parvis had an idea that a man should work.

the force of workers available

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

a form of address for a man

From this reading DIPLOMACY MR.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

out of fashion

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

contaminated with infecting organisms

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

plural of “psychologist” — a scientist trained in psychology

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

an organism or species surviving as a remnant of an otherwise extinct flora or fauna in an environment much changed from that in which it originated

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading In short, Mr. Smith-Parvis had an idea that a man should work.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading In short, Mr. Smith-Parvis had an idea that a man should work.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

plural of “smith” — Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

suppress in order to conceal or hide

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

not in physical motion

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

a special situation

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

past form of “throttle” — place limits on (extent or amount or access)

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading SMITH-PARVIS, Senior, entertained one old-fashioned, back-number idea,--relict of a throttled past; it was a pestiferous idea that always kept bobbing up in an insistent, aggravating way the instant he realized that he had a few minutes to himself.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Psychologists might go so far as to claim that he had been born with it; that it was, after a fashion, hereditary.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading In short, Mr. Smith-Parvis had an idea that a man should work.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He had come of honest, hard-working Smiths; the men and women before him had cultivated the idea with such unwavering assiduity that, despite all that had conspired to stifle it, the thing still clung to him and would not be shaken off.