Chapter V

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a message whose content is at variance with reason

From this reading "That would be the very height of absurdity.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

matters of personal concern

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

an administrative unit of government

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

any person at all

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "That would be the very height of absurdity.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading "Certainly not," the duke replied.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

a state at a particular time

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading "That would be the very height of absurdity.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a particular point in time

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

and nothing more

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a troy pound

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

unusual or striking

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Certainly not," the duke replied.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

have in common

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

term of address for a man

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

reading carefully with intent to remember

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

supernatural forces and events and beings collectively

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

carry out

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That would be the very height of absurdity.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

precisely as stated

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE "A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "That would be the very height of absurdity.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You are not, sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural agency?"