used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
anew
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
(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 Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
all-importantadjective
of the greatest importance
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
calculationsnounUS /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “calculation” — the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
demonstrationnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
digestsnounUS /ˌdaɪˈdʒests/
plural of “digest” — a periodical that summarizes the news
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
DOOMverbUS /duːm/
decree or designate beforehand
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
foretellingnounUS /fɔːrˈtelɪŋ/
a statement made about the future
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
gambledverbUS /ˈɡæmbəld/
past form of “gamble” — take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
hysterianounUS /hɪˈsteriə/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
of great significance or value
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
incomesnounUS /ˈɪnkʌmz/
plural of “income” — the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
incredulitynounUS /ˌɪnkrəˈduːlɪti/
doubt about the truth of something
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
leaseholds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
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 Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
used to form the superlative
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
information about recent and important events
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading First--outside scientific circles--came blank incredulity.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
prophesying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
established beyond doubt
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
revisedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪzd/
improved or brought up to date
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
shortnessnounUS /ˈʃɔːrtnəs/
the property of being of short spatial extent
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was, in the more important of them, followed by digests of the calculations which had made this terrific result a practical certainty.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
a special situation
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
precisely as stated
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
well-informedadjective
possessing sound knowledge
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WAITING FOR DOOM This was the all-important news which the inhabitants of every town which possessed a well-informed newspaper read the next morning.
which person or people
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading These, again, were followed by speculations, some deliberately scientific, and some wild beyond the dreams of the most hopeless hysteria.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
a late time of life
From this reading Men and women who for a generation or so had been making large incomes by prophesying the end of the world as a certainty about every seven years--and had bought up long leaseholds meanwhile--now gambled with absolute certainty on the shortness of the public memory, revised their figures, and proved to demonstration that this was the very thing they had been foretelling all along.
