used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
(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 All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
(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 Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
a period of 100 years
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
carefully weighed
From this reading In his own mind Darrel considered the task impossible.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
Darrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading In his own mind Darrel considered the task impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
laboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a laborious manner
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading In his own mind Darrel considered the task impossible.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading In his own mind Darrel considered the task impossible.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
romancesnounUS /roʊˈmænsɪz/
plural of “romance” — a relationship between two lovers
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
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 Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
carry out
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading In his own mind Darrel considered the task impossible.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
theorising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/
plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
weavingnounUS /ˈwiːvɪŋ/
creating fabric
From this reading All his life Darrel had sat in his study laboriously weaving romances out of such material as he had collected in his wanderings.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Already fate had laid the foundation of an intricate plot; and it was his business to work out to a fit conclusion the criminal problem presented to him.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Now, by a happy chance of fortune, he was about to step out of his ideal world into actual life, and take an active part in a real story.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Doing is better than dreaming; and a year of experience is worth a century of theorising.
