used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob was kept busy.
booksellersnounUS /ˈbʊkselərz/
plural of “bookseller” — the proprietor of a bookstore
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Bob was kept busy.
companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/
plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
Conroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
Conroy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
contemporaryadjectiveUS /kənˈtempəreri/
characteristic of the present
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
engagementsnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənts/
plural of “engagement” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
an act that fails
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
harriedadjectiveUS /ˈherid/
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Bob was kept busy.
managersnounUS /ˈmænədʒərz/
plural of “manager” — someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
plausibleadjectiveUS /ˈplɔːzəbəl/
apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
press-cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
ransackedadjectiveUS /ˈrænsækt/
wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading He harried the managers of press-cutting companies for newspaper reports of speeches on Home Rule.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bob was kept busy.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For nearly a week Conroy remained shut up in his study.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading He ransacked the shelves of booksellers for works dealing with contemporary Irish politics.
the act of creating written works
From this reading He spent a good deal of time in writing plausible explanations of Conroy's failure to keep his social engagements.
