used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
achieveverbUS /əˈtʃiːv/
to gain with effort
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
any thing at all
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
completely unclothed
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
book-lovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
chroniclernounUS /ˈkrɑːnɪklər/
someone who writes chronicles
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
contentedadjectiveUS /kənˈtentəd/
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
defectsnounUS /ˈdiːfekts/
plural of “defect” — an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
espouseverbUS /ɪˈspaʊz/
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
at any time
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
HardenverbUS /ˈhɑːrdən/
become hard or harder
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
HereditaryadjectiveUS /hərˈedəteri/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
incurableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkjʊrəbəl/
incapable of being cured
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
inheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
a room where books are kept
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
United States poet (1869-1950)
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
not any; not one
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
noteworthyadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtwɜːrði/
worthy of attention because interesting, significant, or unusual
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
obscurer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
oppositesnounUS /ˈɑːpəzəts/
plural of “opposite” — a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
portraitsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrəts/
plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
psychologynounUS /saɪˈkɑːlədʒi/
the science of mental life
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
recordedadjectiveUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪd/
set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
regionsnounUS /ˈriːdʒənz/
plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Sir Joseph Harden and those book-lovers who went before him had the incurable defects of their qualities.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was not his business to search into its causes, which belonged to the obscurer regions of psychology.
which person or people
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Their wives were not expected to do anything noteworthy, beyond sitting for their portraits to the masters of their day; though, as a matter of fact, many of them contrived to achieve a far less enviable distinction.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The chronicler who recorded that no woman had ever inherited the Harden Library contented himself with the bare statement of the fact.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Hereditary instinct, working in them with a force as of some blind fatality, drove too many of them to espouse their opposites.
