used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
akinadjectiveUS /əˈkɪn/
similar in quality or character
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
(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 His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
Clairloch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
commandmentnounUS /kəˈmændmənt/
something that is commanded
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
contingenciesnounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənsiz/
plural of “contingency” — a possible event or occurrence or result
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
decencynounUS /ˈdiːsənsi/
the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
Drummond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
Erskine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
set up or found
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
usually; as a rule
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
governednounUS /ˈɡʌvərnd/
the body of people who are citizens of a particular government
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
HESITANCIES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
MackintoshnounUS /ˈmækəntɑːʃ/
a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
a human being
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
principlesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
plural of “principle” — a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
on the contrary
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
techniquenounUS /tekˈniːk/
a practical method or art applied to some particular task
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
a special situation
From this reading That was the first and great commandment of nature, and the second was akin to it; one did nothing contrary to a thing generally known as decency.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading This was a little more complicated, for though decency was a natural thing--one always wanted to be decent, other things being equal--it had a rather difficult technique which had to be mastered by a long slow process.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
ViscountnounUS /ˈvɪskaʊnt/
(in various countries) a son or younger brother or a count
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading One wanted things, and if possible, one got them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HESITANCIES AND TEARS Thomas Mackintosh Drummond Erskine, by courtesy known as Viscount Clairloch, was not a remarkably complicated person.
well-triedadjective
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His life was governed by a few broad and well-tried principles which he found, as many had found before him, covered practically all the contingencies he was called upon to deal with.
