used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
BotanicalnounUS /bəˈtænɪkəl/
a drug made from part of a plant (as the bark or root or leaves)
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
cross-pollinationnoun
fertilization by transfer of pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
Cuthbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
DictionarynounUS /ˈdɪkʃəneri/
a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
dissolveverbUS /dɪˈzɑːlv/
become weaker
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
experimentsnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənts/
plural of “experiment” — the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
fadeverbUS /feɪd/
become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
fancifuladjectiveUS /ˈfænsɪfəl/
indulging in or influenced by fancy
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
a quick look
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
gypsying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
hybridizationnounUS /ˌhaɪbrədəˈzeɪʃən/
(genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
not in action or at work
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
imagesnounUS /ˈɪmədʒəz/
plural of “image” — an iconic mental representation
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
a room where books are kept
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
ORCHIDnounUS /ˈɔːrkəd/
any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
orchidsnounUS /ˈɔːrkədz/
plural of “orchid” — any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
Paxton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
PHANTOMnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
printnounUS /prɪnt/
the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
Vanardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PHANTOM ORCHID Cuthbert Vanardy sat in his library at Sea Glimpse and tried hard to fix his mind on Paxton's _Botanical Dictionary_.
Vanardy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A problem had been teasing Vanardy's imagination for months.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Despite his best efforts it was a hopeless task.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He had struggled with it in idle moments, while resting from more ambitious experiments.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His thoughts would go gypsying, and every now and then the print would blur and fade or dissolve into fanciful images that had nothing to do with hybridization and cross-pollination of orchids.
