used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
acerbitynoun
a sharp bitterness
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
advisableadjectiveUS /ədˈvaɪzəbəl/
worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
composeverbUS /kəmˈpoʊz/
form the substance of
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
conveyverbUS /kənˈveɪ/
(of information) make known; pass on
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
eclipseverbUS /ɪˈklɪps/
be greater in significance than
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
set up or found
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
idiotnounUS /ˈɪdiːət/
a person of subnormal intelligence
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
KentnounUS /kent/
a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
on one occasion
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
perturbedadjectiveUS /pərˈtɜːrbd/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
purposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
recipient'snounUS /rɪˈsɪpiənts/
possessive form of “recipient” — a person who receives something
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
Sedgwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
throesnounUS /θroʊz/
violent pangs of suffering
From this reading Midnight found Kent in the throes of literary effort.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was striving to compose a letter to Sedgwick that should, in turn, compose the recipient’s perturbed feelings.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading By which he purposed to convey to the artist the fact that his presence in Boston was neither desirable nor advisable.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
You've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Don’t try to eclipse your own record.”
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading It concluded, with some acerbity: “You’ve made a pretty complete idiot of yourself once.
