used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
captivenounUS /ˈkæptɪv/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
contretempsnounUS /ˈkɑːntrətemps/
an awkward clash
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
intricaciesnounUS /ˈɪntrəkəsiz/
plural of “intricacy” — marked by elaborately complex detail
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
MORTON'SnounUS /ˈmɔːrtənz/
possessive form of “morton” — United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading MORTON’S SECRET.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
overmuchnoun
a quantity that is more than what is appropriate
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
philosophicallyadverbUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪkəli/
in a philosophic manner
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
robbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/
Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading MORTON’S SECRET.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
threadingverbUS /ˈθredɪŋ/
-ing form of “thread” — to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
male cat
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Tom did not particularly mind the walk.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In fact, though the idea of being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable, there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
which person or people
From this reading Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
