used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
(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 that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
appreciatingverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “appreciate” — recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
conversationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “conversation” — the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading It piqued him mightily without disturbing him.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
exclusionnounUS /ɪkˈskluːʒən/
the state of being excluded
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
a social unit living together
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
forbears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It piqued him mightily without disturbing him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
leakedverbUS /liːkt/
past form of “leak” — tell anonymously
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
joined in matrimony
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
mightilyadverbUS /ˈmaɪtəli/
powerfully or vigorously
From this reading It piqued him mightily without disturbing him.
used to form the superlative
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
piquedverbUS /piːkt/
past form of “pique” — cause to feel resentment or indignation
From this reading It piqued him mightily without disturbing him.
presentableadjectiveUS /prəˈzentəbəl/
fit to be seen
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
sentimentalitynounUS /ˌsentəmenˈtælɪti/
falsely emotional in a maudlin way
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
spadenounUS /speɪd/
a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Concerning the real character of his forbears he learned next to nothing.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All that he heard related to external circumstances that were, or were not, judged respectable and presentable.
at the time that
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
which person or people
From this reading One day they were visited by his father's married sister, who was lacking in sentimentality and had a disturbing way of calling a spade a spade.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It piqued him mightily without disturbing him.
but in spite of that
From this reading One fact in particular was subject to the most rigid exclusion from all family conversations, and yet it leaked down to Keith at a time when he was utterly incapable of appreciating its significance.
