used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
Adams'snounUS /ˈædəmzɪz/
possessive form of “adams” — American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
(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 His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
banishedverbUS /ˈbænɪʃt/
past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
Berselius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
fittingadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪŋ/
in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
for a limitless time
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
provoking horror
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
mercilessadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsələs/
having or showing no mercy
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own misfortune had banished for him, doubtless, all interest in everything else.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading Adams had said to him nothing of Felix, his horrible deeds or his theft of the rifle.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SENTENCE OF THE DESERT Berselius had not asked a single question as to the catastrophe.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
having passed out of existence
From this reading Felix, though he had vanished from Adams's life completely and forever, had not vanished from the face of the earth.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading He was very much alive and doing, and his deeds and his fate are worth a word, for they formed a tragedy well fitting the stage of this merciless land.
