andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/
brought into existence
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
CLERK'SnounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
concernedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrnd/
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
DempseynounUS /ˈdempsi/
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion (1895-1983)
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
desknounUS /desk/
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He was interested only in his desk.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
doubtingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
habitsnounUS /ˈhæbəts/
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
interestedadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪd/
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading He was interested only in his desk.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
listverbUS /lɪst/
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
ManagersnounUS /ˈmænədʒərz/
plural of “manager” — someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading Managers had looked at Dempsey doubtingly and had left him in his habits.
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading He was interested only in his desk.
partnersnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərz/
plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
QUESTnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
QuinnounUS /kwɪn/
one of five children born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
signnounUS /saɪn/
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading New partners had come into the business, but Dempsey showed no sign of interest.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
unluckyadjectiveUS /ənˈlʌki/
having or bringing misfortune
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
WeeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did his work so well that he seemed born to do it, and it was felt that any change in which Dempsey was concerned would be unlucky.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading THE CLERK'S QUEST For thirty years Edward Dempsey had worked low down in the list of clerks in the firm of Quin and Wee.
