used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
abhorrencenounUS /əbˈhɔːrəns/
hate coupled with disgust
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
anew
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What! back again?” asked James, in surprise.
assented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “What! back again?” asked James, in surprise.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
a youthful male person
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
Congrevenoun
English playwright remembered for his comedies (1670-1729)
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
Congreve's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
humiliationnounUS /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/
state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
meannessnounUS /ˈmiːnnəs/
the quality of being deliberately mean
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
principledadjectiveUS /ˈprɪnsəpəld/
based on or manifesting objectively defined standards of rightness or morality
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
reluctancenounUS /rɪˈlʌktəns/
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
resortingverbUS /rɪˈzɔːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “resort” — have recourse to
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
retracedverbUS /riˈtreɪst/
past form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
that is looked for
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading In fact, he retraced his steps, and sought Congreve in his room again.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading “What! back again?” asked James, in surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Besides, the fear of detection inspired in him a certain uneasy feeling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What! back again?” asked James, in surprise.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Philip was far from being a model boy—as we have seen, he didn’t shrink from meanness—but it was not without reluctance that he assented to James Congreve’s proposal.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did not feel that abhorrence of theft that a better principled boy would have done, but the thought of resorting to it gave him a sense of humiliation.
