used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
arrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
backslidingnounUS /ˈbækslaɪdɪŋ/
a failure to maintain a higher state
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
(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 More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
discontentnounUS /dɪskənˈtent/
a longing for something better than the present situation
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
edificenounUS /ˈedəfəs/
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
divisible by two
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
keen-sightedadjective
having very keen vision
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
lordship's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
absolutely essential
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
not any; not one
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
on one occasion
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
peasnounUS /piːz/
plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
penitentnounUS /ˈpenɪtɪnt/
(Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor)
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
by chance
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
Prior's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is even possible that some expectation of the kind had always been part and parcel of the Prior's plans.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
a particular situation
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
suppliedverbUS /səˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
in the direction of
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
unboiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The scrap of paper was the top brick; it crowned the edifice of his discontent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE ONE MAN--AND THE OTHER There were peas in his lordship's shoes: unboiled.
whole-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time he had been arriving at the conclusion that he had no so whole-hearted a leaning towards the religious life as he had once imagined.
in the company of; together with
From this reading More, it supplied him with the necessary courage to confess his backsliding to his superior; that keen-sighted religious being perhaps better prepared for the confession than the penitent imagined.
