used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
the act of departing
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
set down according to a plan
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
absolutely essential
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
reshapingverbUS /riˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “reshape” — shape anew or differently
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Fortunately the decision was not difficult, as former inclination had practically settled the matter.
shapingnounUS /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
any process serving to define the shape of something
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
Staggchase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
carry out
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile he had before him the problem of reshaping his life.
a special situation
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was necessary that he decide what should take the place of the profession which he had laid down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The definite shaping of his plans came one day in a talk which he had with his cousin.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It isn't exactly my affair, Maurice," Mrs. Staggchase said, "but I want to know, and that always makes a thing her affair with a woman,--what are you going to do with your life now that you have pulled it out of the mouth of the church?"
