used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
how long something has existed
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
(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 You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
Andrew'snounUS /ˈændruːz/
possessive form of “andrew” — (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
bankrupts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
for the reason that
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
beggarsnounUS /ˈbeɡərz/
plural of “beggar” — a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
conceptionsnounUS /kənˈsepʃənz/
plural of “conception” — an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
concessionnounUS /kənˈseʃən/
a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
declineverbUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
grow worse
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
accept an excuse for
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
with resolute determination
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
hold firmly
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
intellectnounUS /ˈɪntəlekt/
knowledge and intellectual ability
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
not any; not one
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
on one occasion
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
pardoningverbUS /ˈpɑːrdənɪŋ/
-ing form of “pardon” — accept an excuse for
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/
any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
with speed
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
reasoningnounUS /ˈriːzənɪŋ/
thinking that is coherent and logical
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
in a serious manner
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
serviceableadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrvəsəbəl/
ready for service or able to give long service
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
tamperedverbUS /ˈtæmpərd/
past form of “tamper” — play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading You would be pardoning beggars because they were hungry, and bankrupts because they had no money, and all kinds of things.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It accepted the fact, since the evidence was now becoming overwhelming, but it firmly refused to go an inch beyond this concession.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
unimaginativeadjectiveUS /ənɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv/
deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
in or at the place that
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
which person or people
From this reading It was characteristic of Andrew's serviceable and soundly unimaginative intellect that it should decline to grasp such a phenomenon as a father who was rapidly approaching his own age.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Andrew's conceptions of justice were not to be tampered with like that.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading If one were seriously to regard his conduct as the natural result of youth and high spirits, there would be in a kind of way an excuse for it; and once you started that line of reasoning, where were you?
