used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
(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 He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
asceticismnoun
the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/
plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
move gently or carefully
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
accept an excuse for
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
financialadjectiveUS /fəˈnænʃəl/
involving financial matters
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
in the recent past
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
in the near future
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
recollectedverbUS /ˌrekəˈlektɪd/
past form of “recollect” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
not used up
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/
acceptance of despair
From this reading He sold one, with a sense of resignation.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He sold one, with a sense of resignation.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading He sold one, with a sense of resignation.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
Stacey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this seemed an excellent excuse for remaining at home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
travelsnounUS /ˈtrævəlz/
plural of “travel” — the act of going from one place to another
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading But he presently recollected that on one War Christmas his father had made him a gift of Liberty bonds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not feel irony in the ease with which he could solve all financial difficulties, for the idea of personal virtue, asceticism, was absent from his mind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It occurred to Stacey, however, that he had spent more than he could afford lately and had nothing with which to go on his travels.
