used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
admiredadjectiveUS /ədˈmaɪərd/
regarded with admiration
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
on or to one side
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
Brian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
Comethup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
increase twofold
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
embarkedverbUS /emˈbɑːrkt/
past form of “embark” — go on board
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
divisible by two
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
meetingsnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋz/
plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
absolutely essential
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
the local environment
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
cut with a saw
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
systematicallyadverbUS /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪkli/
in a systematic or consistent manner
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
precisely as stated
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading For the first time in his remarkably short existence Comethup Willis began to lead a double life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had already done so, to a very small extent, in regard to his meetings with Brian and with the captain; but now he began systematically to divide his life into two parts.
worshippedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrʃəpt/
regarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god)
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His reason for this was purely an instinctive one, and he would have been puzzled, under any circumstances, to explain even to himself why he saw in his childish mind that such a course of action was necessary.
but in spite of that
From this reading But, although he admired and almost worshipped his cousin Brian, as a being superior in every way to his very humble self and of more brilliant parts, he yet felt that, in a delicate matter like that on which he had embarked with the captain, Brian must be set aside.
