used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/
plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
competentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪntli/
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
esteemedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstiːmd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
divisible by two
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
fulsomeadjectiveUS /ˈfʊlsəm/
unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
yet to be or coming
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
geniallyadverb
in an affable manner
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
Granville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
HarbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
neatnessnounUS /ˈniːtnəs/
the state of being neat and smart and trim
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
publicitynounUS /pəˈblɪsəti/
a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
talentsnounUS /ˈtælənts/
plural of “talent” — natural abilities or qualities
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He felt a rational pride in this composition.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He thought there was a neatness in that touch about Dark Harbour and its bright future.
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
veinnounUS /veɪn/
a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in the genially fulsome vein esteemed by railroad companies.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even if people weren’t tranquil, in a place so competently described, they ought to be.
at the time that
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
produce a literary work
From this reading Phyllis was probably right when she often said it was a shame Mr. Granville should spend his talents in mere publicity work when he might so easily write something famous--fiction, for instance.
