used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
adequatelyadverbUS /ˈædəkwətli/
in an adequate manner or to an adequate degree
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
BureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
coptor-taxi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading WHAT DO YOU READ?
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
HerbertnounUS /ˈhɜːrbərt/
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
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 Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
engage in
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading WHAT DO YOU READ?
Script-Lab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
seclusionnounUS /sɪˈkluːʒən/
the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
taxisnounUS /ˈtæksiz/
a locomotor response toward or away from an external stimulus by a motile (and usually simple) organism
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Bureau paid its writers adequately, but not enough to make them comfortable in taxis.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT DO YOU READ?
at the time that
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Why bother with human writers when the machines did the job so much faster and better?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Herbert would have preferred the seclusion of a coptor-taxi, but he knew he could not afford it.
WritersnounUS /ˈraɪtərz/
plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading Writers have long dreamed of a plot machine, but the machines in Script-Lab did much more than plot the story--they wrote it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading WHAT DO YOU READ?
