used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
conceitnounUS /kənˈsiːt/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
make right or correct
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
destroyed or killed
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
jottedverbUS /ˈdʒɑːtɪd/
inflected form of “jot” — write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
lapsesnounUS /ˈlæpsɪz/
plural of “lapse” — a mistake resulting from inattention
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
as might be expected
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
many times at short intervals
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
regenerationnounUS /riˈdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
(biology) growth anew of lost tissue or destroyed parts or organs
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She never questioned the motives of the characters; she had neither the ability nor the conceit for that; but she could and often did correct his lapses in colour.
slipsnounUS /slɪps/
plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
Spurlock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
themenounUS /θiːm/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
having come into contact
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
undertookverbUS /ˌʌndərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Spurlock's novel was a tale of regeneration.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
in or at the place that
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She never touched the manuscript with pencil, but jotted down her notes on slips of paper and left them where he might easily find them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
produce a literary work
From this reading For a long time to come that would naturally be the theme of any story he undertook to write.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading After he was gone in the morning, Ruth would steal into the study and hurriedly read what he had written the previous night.
