used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
admittingverbUS /ædˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
(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 "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We aren't like that."
authorshipnounUS /ˈɔːθərʃɪp/
the act of creating written works
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
for the reason that
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/
plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
bridledverbUS /ˈbraɪdəld/
past form of “bridle” — anger or take offense
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
conceitnounUS /kənˈsiːt/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
criticnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪk/
a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading It was she, trembling, who was his first critic.
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
doomedadjectiveUS /duːmd/
marked for certain death
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
an instinctive motive
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We aren't like that."
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was she, trembling, who was his first critic.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
a shaky motion
From this reading It was she, trembling, who was his first critic.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We aren't like that."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
at the time that
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
which person or people
From this reading It was she, trembling, who was his first critic.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he was shy of admitting what he thought of, because he thought of noble deeds, and his ideal woman, and of the ecstasy it would be to see his name on the cover of a book--and he was doomed to be a clerk.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet when the clerk chafed in his bonds, and the conceit of authorship was too mighty to be bridled, it was to her that he first revealed a manuscript.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your good women are all perfect," she told him, "and your bad women have never a good impulse.
