used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/
-ing form of “address” — speak to
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
complyverbUS /kəmˈplaɪ/
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
comprehendedadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
recognizable; marked
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading Yes: his decision was irreversible.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
flutelike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
gainsayverbUS /ˈɡeɪnseɪ/
take exception to
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yes: his decision was irreversible.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
irreversibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈvɜːrsəbəl/
incapable of being reversed
From this reading Yes: his decision was irreversible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
paramountadjectiveUS /ˈperəmaʊnt/
having superior power and influence
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
like better; value more highly
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
express the need or desire for
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
revolvedadjectiveUS /riˈvɑːlvd/
turned in a circle around an axis
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “I prefer not to,” he replied in a flutelike tone.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
usagenounUS /ˈjuːsədʒ/
the act of using
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He briefly gave me to understand, that on that point my judgment was sound.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes: his decision was irreversible.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are decided, then, not to comply with my request—a request made according to common usage and common sense?”
