used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
disperser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
GoldsmithnounUS /ˈɡoʊldsmɪθ/
an artisan who makes jewelry and other objects out of gold
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
kindlinessnoun
friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
miraclenounUS /ˈmɪrəkəl/
any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
rewardedverbUS /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “reward” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
self-deceptionnounUS /ˌselfdəˈsepʃən/
a misconception that is favorable to the person who holds it
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
straightforwardadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
free from ambiguity
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
straightforwardnessnoun
the quality of being direct and straightforward
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that the end of his dream had come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
precisely as stated
From this reading In the very brutality of his straightforwardness there was, however, a suspicion of kindliness that made any appeal from his judgment hopeless.
someone who visits
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If any man was calculated to be a disperser of vain dreams that man was Johnson.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
at the time that
From this reading When his visitor had gone Goldsmith seated himself in his chair and gave way to the bitter reflections of the hour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The straightforward words which Johnson had spoken had put an end to his self-deception--to his hoping against his better judgment that by some miracle his devotion might be rewarded.
