AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
abysmaladjectiveUS /əˈbɪzməl/
very great; limitless
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
administrationnounUS /ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/
a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
attributingverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪŋ/
-ing form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
BranchnounUS /bræntʃ/
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
bredverbUS /bred/
inflected form of “breed” — call forth
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
diplomanounUS /dɪˈploʊmɑː/
a document certifying the successful completion of a course of study
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
disgraceverbUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
bring shame or dishonor upon
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
eccentricitynounUS /ˌeksənˈtrɪsəti/
strange and unconventional behavior
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
failverbUS /feɪl/
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
heatnounUS /hiːt/
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
LifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
mathematicaladjectiveUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/
of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
mathematicsnounUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
MEETINGnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
MEMORABLEadjectiveUS /ˈmemərəbəl/
worth remembering
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
pale-gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
passverbUS /pæs/
go across or through
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
passionnounUS /ˈpæʃən/
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
PresidentnounUS /ˈprezədent/
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
problemsnounUS /ˈprɑːbləmz/
plural of “problem” — a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
qualitynounUS /ˈkwɑːləti/
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
SecretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
secreting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading Life presented itself to him as a series of mathematical problems, as an examination in mathematics.
smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
soulnounUS /soʊl/
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
strangely-constructed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
successnounUS /səkˈses/
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading To pass it meant a diploma as a success; to fail to pass meant the abysmal disgrace of obscurity.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
TreasurynounUS /ˈtreʒəri/
the funds of a government or institution or individual
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
unscrupulousadjectiveUS /ənˈskruːpjələs/
without scruples or principles
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MEMORABLE MEETING In that administration the man "next" the President was his Secretary of the Treasury, John Branch, cold and smooth and able, secreting, in his pale-gray soul, an icy passion for power more relentless than heat ever bred.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For him principle did not exist, except as an eccentricity of some strangely-constructed men which might be used to keep them down.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To speak of him as unscrupulous would be like attributing moral quality to a reptile.
