used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
anonymousadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːnəməs/
having no known name or identity or known source
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
come to pass
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
engage in
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
mercurialadjectiveUS /mərˈkjʊriəl/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
resentedverbUS /riˈzentɪd/
past form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
RUTHVEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading Instead of exciting him, as it might had he been a man of mercurial temperament, it irritated him intensely.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
interact in a certain way
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He did not know what to make of it, or how to treat it.
at the time that
From this reading That was the way when things out of the ordinary happened to Ruthven Smith: he resented them.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was not--and recognized the fact that he was not--the type of man to whom things ought to happen.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading WHY RUTHVEN SMITH WENT Never in his life had Ruthven Smith been blessed or cursed by an anonymous letter.
