used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading He had many acquaintances and no intimates.
(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 Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had many acquaintances and no intimates.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
from appearances alone
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
baitingnounUS /ˈbeɪtɪŋ/
harassment especially of a tethered animal
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
bluffingverbUS /ˈblʌfɪŋ/
-ing form of “bluff” — deceive an opponent by a bold bet on an inferior hand with the result that the opponent withdraws a winning hand
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
clannounUS /klæn/
group of people related by blood or marriage
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading His reputation in Wall Street was formless and cloudy.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
every person
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
feudnounUS /fjuːd/
a bitter quarrel between two parties
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
formlessadjective
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading His reputation in Wall Street was formless and cloudy.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
gadflynounUS /ˈɡædflaɪ/
a persistently annoying person
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
GALT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
highest in quality
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
HarbingernounUS /ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər/
something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
intimatesnounUS /ˈɪntəməts/
plural of “intimate” — someone to whom private matters are confided
From this reading He had many acquaintances and no intimates.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
conformity or harmony
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
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 Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
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 He had many acquaintances and no intimates.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
not any; not one
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
pestiferousadjective
contaminated with infecting organisms
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading His reputation in Wall Street was formless and cloudy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading His reputation in Wall Street was formless and cloudy.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
swaggeringadjectiveUS /ˈswæɡərɪŋ/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
trystnounUS /trɪst/
a date; usually with a member of the opposite sex
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
vineyardsnounUS /ˈvɪnjərdz/
plural of “vineyard” — a farm of grapevines where wine grapes are produced
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading His reputation in Wall Street was formless and cloudy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
in or at the place that
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
workernounUS /ˈwɜːrkər/
a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading He was a solitary worker in the money vineyards, keeping neither feud nor tryst with any clan.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading GALT i It was true of Galt, as Harbinger said, that he had no friends; it was not therefore true that his world was full of enemies.
a late time of life
From this reading Everybody knew him, or knew something about him; for twenty years he had been a pestiferous gadfly on the Stock Exchange, lighting here and there, turning up suddenly in situations where he had to be settled with or bought off, swaggering, bluffing, baiting, playing the greatest of all games of wit with skill and daring--and apparently getting nowhere in the end.
