used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
the state of being absent
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
(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 Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
bluntedadjectiveUS /ˈblʌntəd/
made dull or blunt
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
DISAPPEARANCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
ENCOUNTERverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
enlistmentnounUS /enˈlɪstmənt/
a period of time spent in military service
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
divisible by two
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
a social unit living together
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
houndedverbUS /ˈhaʊndɪd/
past form of “hound” — pursue or chase relentlessly
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
easily agitated
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
not any; not one
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I was inside the mystery now, in action if not in knowledge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
and nothing more
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
overstrainverb
strain excessively
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
like better; value more highly
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
rootnounUS /ruːt/
(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
sincereadjectiveUS /sɪnˈsɪr/
open and genuine; not deceitful
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was as if the nerve of curiosity had been blunted in me through overstrain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/
unbearable physical pain
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
uncomplicatedadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmpləkeɪtɪd/
lacking complexity
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
precisely as stated
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
accept gladly
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
(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 Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What the root of the matter might be, I knew no better than before; but somehow, I had been quite sincere in saying that I did not really care.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN ENCOUNTER The next few days passed by without event; and the absence of excitement was a welcome enough relief, even to me.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
but in spite of that
From this reading Adventures in themselves are all very well, but I prefer mine uncomplicated with nervous anxiety; and although my enlistment in the family garrison had relieved me in some measure from that torment of personal worry which had hounded me before, yet the trouble had only taken another form, the more heavy for being less selfish.
