used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
acmenounUS /ˈækmi/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading To emulate Logan and Allan was his aim.
Allan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To emulate Logan and Allan was his aim.
Allan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To emulate Logan and Allan was his aim.
appealedverbUS /əˈpiːld/
past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
take in liquids
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
emulateverbUS /ˈemjəleɪt/
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
From this reading To emulate Logan and Allan was his aim.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
set up or found
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
Gourlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
intercoursenounUS /ˈɪntərkɔːrs/
communication between individuals
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
jovialitynoun
feeling jolly and jovial and full of good humor
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
LogannounUS /ˈloʊɡən/
a mountain peak in the St. Elias Range in the southwestern Yukon Territory in Canada (19,850 feet high)
From this reading To emulate Logan and Allan was his aim.
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 But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
publicannoun
the keeper of a public house
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
sessionnounUS /ˈseʃən/
a meeting for execution of a group's functions
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
sordidadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrdəd/
morally degraded
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
topernoun
a person who drinks alcoholic beverages (especially to excess)
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
precisely as stated
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading But drink appealed to him in many ways besides.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
wit-combats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The somewhat sordid joviality of Allan's ring, their wit-combats that were somewhat crude, appeared to him the very acme of social intercourse.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Young Gourlay had found a means of escaping from his foolish mind.
