used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
(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 "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
brought into existence
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
ensuedverbUS /ɪnˈsuːd/
past form of “ensue” — issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
hereditaryadjectiveUS /hərˈedəteri/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
insensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsensəbəl/
incapable of physical sensation
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
immediately past
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
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 But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
the force of workers available
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
pipesnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
carry out
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this, I take it, is not the rule and comes, I think, mostly as an hereditary gift, through long generations of proud ancestors.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some men are born insensible to fear, and some have a high sense of honor through instinct.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the lighting of the pipes one evening, the conversation of the Club turned upon what constituted courage and a high sense of honor; whether they were native or acquired gifts.
Wright'snounUS /raɪts/
possessive form of “wright” — United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)
From this reading A good deal of talk ensued, until at last Wright's opinion was asked:
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are all right," said he, "and all wrong.
