used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
a line of approach
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
business-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
ColombianounUS /kəˈlʌmbiə/
a republic in northwestern South America with a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar; Spanish is the official language
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
competentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪnt/
properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
efficientadjectiveUS /ɪˈfɪʃənt/
being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
at any time
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading His mind had been full of fine resolutions.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading His mind had been full of fine resolutions.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
honestlyadverbUS /ˈɑːnəstli/
(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
intendingverbUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪŋ/
-ing form of “intend” — have in mind as a purpose
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
KirknounUS /kɜːrk/
a Scottish church
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His mind had been full of fine resolutions.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
mouldverbUS /moʊld/
form in clay, wax, etc
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
OutcastsnounUS /ˈaʊtkæsts/
plural of “outcast” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
resolutionsnounUS /ˌrezəˈluːʃənz/
plural of “resolution” — a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading His mind had been full of fine resolutions.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
move hurridly
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
make square
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
possessing sweep
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
teachernounUS /ˈtiːtʃər/
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
upheavalnounUS /əpˈhiːvəl/
a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
the topmost one of two
From this reading But the rush of life, as lived on the upper avenue, had swept him away.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Ever since his return from Colombia he had honestly been intending to resume his painting, and, attacking it this time in a business-like way, to try to mould himself into the semblance of an efficient artist.
(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 He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
which person or people
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The Outcasts Three months of his new life had gone by before Kirk awoke from the stupor which had gripped him as the result of the general upheaval of his world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would engage a good teacher, some competent artist whom fortune had not treated well and who would be glad of the job—Washington Square and its neighbourhood were full of them—and settle down grimly, working regular hours, to recover lost ground.
