used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
(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 All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He had been a fixture in a certain lap of luxury.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
discordantadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɔːrdənt/
not in agreement or harmony
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
fixturenounUS /ˈfɪkstʃər/
an object firmly fixed in place (especially in a household)
From this reading He had been a fixture in a certain lap of luxury.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
grimmeradjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪmər/
comparative of “grim” — not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That luxury had refined him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading He had been a fixture in a certain lap of luxury.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading He had been a fixture in a certain lap of luxury.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a brief written record
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
portentousadjectiveUS /pɔːrˈtentəs/
of momentous or ominous significance
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
puffedadjectiveUS /pʌft/
gathered for protruding fullness
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading That luxury had refined him.
Roland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In spite of the portentous significance of this day in his life David could not help seeing and feeling in his suddenly changed environment, as he puffed along behind Father Roland, something that was neither adventure nor romance, but humour.
whimsicaladjectiveUS /ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
From this reading A whimsical humour at first, but growing grimmer as his thoughts sped.
but in spite of that
From this reading All his life he had lived in a great city, he had been a part of its life--a discordant note in it, and yet a part of it for all that.
