used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
(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 I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
Belcampo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
excellencynounUS /ˈekˈslensi/
a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by “Your” or “His” or “Her”
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
excellency's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
an instinctive motive
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
influencesnounUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪz/
plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
inspiresverbUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪrz/
third-person singular of “inspire” — heighten or intensify
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
labouredadjective
lacking natural ease
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
set afire or burning
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
painternounUS /ˈpeɪntər/
an artist who paints
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
pathosnounUS /ˈpeɪθɑːs/
a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
capable of happening or existing
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
by chance
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
predominantadjectiveUS /prɪˈdɑːmənənt/
most frequent or common
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
free from harm or evil
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
determined
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
have in common
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
sublimest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading "When I arranged your excellency's hair, my mind was, as usual, lighted up by the sublimest ideas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "How can that be?" said I; "what share could you possibly have in the disaster?"
at the time that
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
which person or people
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
withstandverbUS /wɪθˈstænd/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading "Who can resist momentary impulse?" said the little man, in a tone of great pathos; "who can withstand the influences of that unseen, but predominant Spirit, that rules over and inspires all our thoughts and actions?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I was drinking my wine in an adjoining room when the uproar began, and resolved, if possible, to rescue you, for I alone am the author of all this disturbance."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your excellency," said Belcampo, "appears to have laboured under a strange fatality with regard to this painter.
