used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading Otherwise the ideal had been achieved.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
brought into existence
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
CROUCHverbUS /kraʊtʃ/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
well in the past; former
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
wanted intensely
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
fitnessnounUS /ˈfɪtnəs/
the quality of being suitable
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading Otherwise the ideal had been achieved.
imposedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzd/
set forth authoritatively as obligatory
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
inoffensiveness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
Johann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
and nothing more
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
in other respects or ways
From this reading Otherwise the ideal had been achieved.
restlessnessnounUS /ˈrestləsnəs/
the quality of being ceaselessly moving or active
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
without speaking
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
Stryj
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
TIGERnounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/
a fierce or audacious person
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
undemonstratively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROUCH OF THE TIGER Johann Stryj had departed as silently and undemonstratively as he had come.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The chief spy was a born master of his craft.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading His whole air of simple inoffensiveness left nothing to be desired.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The only matter in which Nature had been less kind to him in his fitness for the work he had imposed upon himself was in the slightly furtive restlessness of his eyes.
