used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
acceptableadjectiveUS /ækˈseptəbəl/
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
acquirementnoun
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
appealedverbUS /əˈpiːld/
past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
BrainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
Chatham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
concentratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd/
gathered together or made less diffuse
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
dullestadjectiveUS /ˈdʌləst/
superlative of “dull” — lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
full of life and energy
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
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 The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
methodic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
raritynounUS /ˈrerəti/
noteworthy scarcity
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
express in words
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
not in physical motion
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading Jack's term of service at Chatham had been such.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His work appealed to him, and he gave himself up heart and soul, and might have given his health as well if the authorities had not seen to it.
precisely as stated
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
(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 The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Brains in an officer were very acceptable, and the concentrated application of them still more so--to say nothing of the comparative rarity of the combination.
at the time that
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading His record was one of simple hard work, considerable acquirement, and a methodic, level life.
a late time of life
From this reading The dullest pages in history are those which record the long, slow years of peace and progress, when everything goes well and nothing lively happens.
