used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
(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 But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He had promised to write a book.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
comfortedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪd/
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
competitionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃən/
a business relation in which two parties compete to gain customers
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
eliminateverbUS /ɪˈlɪməneɪt/
terminate, end, or take out
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
errorsnounUS /ˈerərz/
plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
FearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
folliesnounUS /ˈfɑːliz/
a revue with elaborate costuming
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had promised to write a book.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
immediately past
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
and nothing more
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
polishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
the property of being smooth and shiny
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading He had promised to write a book.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
reviseverbUS /rɪˈvaɪz/
make revisions in
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
carry out
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
undertakenverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪkən/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was bad enough, considering that he felt so little fitted for the task.
which person or people
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
in the company of; together with
From this reading George felt like a man who has committed himself to take part in some public competition although not properly prepared for the contest, and during the night that succeeded his last meeting with Constance he slept little.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But, at least, if he had undertaken to finish the work, revise it and polish it and eliminate all the errors he could discover before bringing it to Miss Fearing in its final shape, he could have comforted himself with the thought that the first follies he committed would be known only to himself.
produce a literary work
From this reading He had promised to write a book.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading He had promised, however, to read the chapters to Constance as he wrote them, one by one, and the thought filled him with dismay.
