used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
anew
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
(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 The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
divisible by two
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The strength he had won was his still.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
cause to move by striking
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
not any; not one
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
on one occasion
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
and nothing more
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
with low volume
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
resoluteadjectiveUS /ˈrezəluːt/
firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
self-training
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
not in physical motion
From this reading The strength he had won was his still.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The strength he had won was his still.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
a special situation
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then his rigid self-control came to his aid, and his face grew stern and hard.
undoneadjectiveUS /ənˈdʌn/
not done
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The preposterous thing was that he should let a chance resemblance hit him so; should even admit the possibility of being undone after all his careful self-training.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading No, a thousand times no; he was not such a weak fool as that.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading The strength he had won was his still.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had only to go on being resolute and cold and the past would lie down again, and once more go quietly to sleep.
