used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
the state of being absent
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
aloofnessnounUS /əˈluːfnəs/
indifference by personal withdrawal
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
colleaguesnounUS /ˈkɑːliɡz/
plural of “colleague” — an associate that one works with
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
comradeshipnoun
the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
concentrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃən/
the strength of a solution; number of molecules of a substance in a given volume
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
without stop or interruption
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
CouriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
distastefuladjectiveUS /dɪˈsteɪstfəl/
not pleasing in odor or taste
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
at any time
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
melancholianoun
extreme depression characterized by tearful sadness and irrational fears
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
progressedverbUS /prəˈɡrest/
past form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK A season of intense depression, almost of melancholia, came to Douglas.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
at the time that
From this reading On the threshold of his ambitions, when the way seemed fair before him, life had suddenly become distasteful.
in or at the place that
From this reading He avoided the club, where his absence was commented upon, and where he was in a fair way to become a popular member.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
which person or people
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He grew more reserved than ever with his colleagues on the staff of the Courier, who regretted his aloofness and would gladly have drawn him into the ranks of their pleasant comradeship.
but in spite of that
From this reading With a fierce effort of concentration he continued to work at his novel, which yet progressed but slowly.
