used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
arbutusnoun
any of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Arbutus of temperate Europe and America
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
exhale hard
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
boxernounUS /ˈbɑːksər/
someone who fights with his fists for sport
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
courageousadjectiveUS /kərˈeɪdʒəs/
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
crumbledverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəld/
past form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
demandsnounUS /dɪˈmændz/
plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
distastenounUS /dɪˈsteɪst/
a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
editornounUS /ˈedətər/
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
editorialadjectiveUS /ˌedəˈtɔːriəl/
of or relating to an article stating opinions or giving perspectives
From this reading I have read your editorial.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
Esme's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
an act that fails
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
fitternounUS /ˈfɪtər/
someone who fits a garment to a particular person
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
Hal'snounUS /hælz/
possessive form of “hals” — Dutch portrait and genre painter who endowed his portraits with vitality and humor (1580?-1666)
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have read your editorial.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have read your editorial.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
itemnounUS /ˈaɪtəm/
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
a brief written record
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading I have read your editorial.
REPRISALSnounUS /rɪˈpraɪzəlz/
plural of “reprisal” — a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
stirringlyadverb
in a stirring manner
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
strategynounUS /ˈstrætədʒi/
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a packet, containing the crumbled fragments of a spray of arbutus, and a note in handwriting now stirringly familiar.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The first item in the late afternoon mail stung him to a fitter spirit, as a sharp blow will spur to his best efforts a courageous boxer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading REPRISALS Working on an empty heart is almost as severe a strain as the less poetic process of working on an empty stomach.
wreckingnounUS /ˈrekɪŋ/
the event of a structure being completely demolished and leveled
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading On the morning after the failure of Esme's strategy and the wrecking of Hal's hopes, the young editor went to his office with a languid but bitter distaste for its demands.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I have read your editorial.
