used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
Deuteronomynoun
the fifth book of the Old Testament; contains a second statement of Mosaic law
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
earnverbUS /ɜːrn/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
editor'snounUS /ˈedɪtərz/
possessive form of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
editorsnounUS /ˈedɪtərz/
plural of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
emphaticallyadverbUS /emˈfætɪkli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
fountain-pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
freshernounUS /ˈfreʃər/
a first-year undergraduate
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
highest in quality
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
Homer'snounUS /ˈhoʊmərz/
possessive form of “homer” — a base hit on which the batter scores a run
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
IliadnounUS /ˈɪliəd/
a Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer) describing the siege of Troy
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
and nothing more
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
Lapham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
McTeague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
MirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
Norris'snounUS /ˈnɔːrəsɪz/
possessive form of “norris” — United States writer (1870-1902)
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
and nothing more
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
reviewnounUS /ˌriːˈvjuː/
a new appraisal or evaluation
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
move upward
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
scribblingverbUS /ˈskrɪbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
sweatnounUS /swet/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
three-thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
traitnounUS /treɪt/
a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
Wharton'snounUS /ˈwɔːrtənz/
possessive form of “wharton” — United States novelist (1862-1937)
From this reading He stared at me and asked if I hadn't some fresher book in mind, and I, somewhat taken aback, told him that I was just finishing Frank Norris's "McTeague" and was about to begin on Mrs. Wharton's "House of Mirth."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In what other profession must a man be so emphatically up to the minute as in this scribbling profession of ours?
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
which person or people
From this reading In any case, being behind the times is a peculiarly unfortunate trait in a man, who, like myself, is condemned to earn his bread in the sweat of his fountain-pen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
produce a literary work
From this reading With a brutality characteristic of editors he asked me whether I didn't care to write a review of Homer's Iliad and the book of Deuteronomy.
the day immediately before today
From this reading Only yesterday I walked into an editor's office and suggested a three-thousand word review of "The Rise of Silas Lapham," which I told him was one of the greatest novels in any language.
