Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

(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 He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

give sanction to

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as “on behalf of” rather than “in behalf of”)

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

plural of “capital” — assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

a person who is in charge

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

communication by the exchange of letters

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a native or inhabitant of Europe

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

be earlier in time; go back further

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a man of refinement

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a person of German nationality

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

past form of “interview” — conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a native or inhabitant of Italy

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

and nothing more

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

conformity or harmony

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

plural of “language” — a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

social deportment

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

above and across; more than

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a human being

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading He knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

unusual or striking

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

express in speech

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

not wanted

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

someone who visits

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

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 knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading THE PRIVATE SECRETARY Soame Rivers was in some ways, and not a few, a model private secretary for a busy statesman.

(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 knew the political and other gossip of most or all of the European capitals, and of Washington and Cairo just as well.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading He was a gentleman by birth, bringing-up, appearance, and manners; he was very quick, adroit and clever; he had a wonderful memory, a remarkable faculty for keeping documents and ideas in order; he could speak French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and conduct a correspondence in these languages.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading He could be interviewed on behalf of his chief, and could be trusted not to utter one single word of which his chief could not approve.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He would see any undesirable visitor, and in five minutes talk him over into the belief that it was a perfect grief to the Minister to have to forego the pleasure of seeing him in person.