used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He ceased to bother about Billy's schooling.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
react verbally
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
any thing at all
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading He ceased to bother about Billy's schooling.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading He ceased to bother about Billy's schooling.
bronzedadjectiveUS /brɑːnzd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading He ceased to bother about Billy's schooling.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
clocksnounUS /klɑːks/
European weed naturalized in southwestern United States and Mexico having reddish decumbent stems with small fernlike leaves and small deep reddish-lavender flowers followed by slender fruits that stick straight up; often grown for forage
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
desistverbUS /dɪˈsɪst/
choose not to consume
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
disfiguringverbUS /dɪˈsfɪɡjərɪŋ/
-ing form of “disfigure” — mar or spoil the appearance of
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
harvestnounUS /ˈhɑːrvəst/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
imploredverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːrd/
past form of “implore” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
MavisnounUS /ˈmeɪvɪs/
common Old World thrush noted for its song
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
Norah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
omittedverbUS /oʊˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “omit” — prevent from being included or considered or accepted
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
schoolingnounUS /ˈskuːlɪŋ/
the act of teaching at school
From this reading He ceased to bother about Billy's schooling.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
shavingnounUS /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/
the act of removing hair with a razor
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
stubblenounUS /ˈstʌbəl/
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It grew during three days; but the effect was so disfiguring--a stiff stubble of gray, hiding his fine strong chin, and spreading high on his bronzed cheeks--that Norah and Mavis implored him to desist.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
a source of difficulty
From this reading He tried to let his beard grow, in order to escape the trouble of shaving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Since to do anything was a severe effort, he had better do nothing.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He postponed making his harvest arrangements; he forgot to answer a letter asking for an estimate, and one Thursday he omitted to wind the clocks.
