used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
(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 It made all the difference in the world.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
carefully weighed
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading It made all the difference in the world.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It made all the difference in the world.
an occurrence of something
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It made all the difference in the world.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It made all the difference in the world.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
by chance
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
very small
From this reading Conclusion I bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
trapsnounUS /træps/
plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
under normal conditions
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I am usually prepared for any traps which can possibly be sprung for me; but in this instance I find I have made my one mistake.
Wildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I have always, and with some reason, I think," was the first sentence that I caught, "considered myself a man of more than average mental ability.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I could now hear every word that Wildred was saying.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It made all the difference in the world.
