used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
(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 "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
Avon'snounUS /ˈævənz/
possessive form of “avon” — a river in southwestern England rising in Gloucestershire and flowing through Bristol to empty into the estuary of the Severn
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
deemedverbUS /diːmd/
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
indulgeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒ/
give free rein to
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
with speed
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
sentimentalitynounUS /ˌsentəmenˈtælɪti/
falsely emotional in a maudlin way
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
TexansnounUS /ˈteksənz/
plural of “texan” — a native or resident of Texas
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The first feeling of amazement following Avon's announcement of his resolution quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his duty to impress upon him the desperate nature of his scheme.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "And if I stay what are the chances for us all?"
at the time that
From this reading The family of Texans were not the ones to indulge in sentimentality or useless speculations when action was demanded.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I don't see one chance in twenty of your succeeding," said he.
