used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
(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 With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
BrainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
cynicaladjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
DEBRISnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
downfallnounUS /ˈdaʊnfɔːl/
failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
a person who is older than you are
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
faithsnounUS /feɪθs/
plural of “faith” — a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
for this reason
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
KittynounUS /ˈkɪti/
the combined stakes of the betters
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
majoritynounUS /məˈdʒɔːrəti/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
MinistrynounUS /ˈmɪnəstri/
religious ministers collectively (especially Presbyterian)
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
attach to a support
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
nursedadjectiveUS /nɜːrst/
(of an infant) breast-fed
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
a human being
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
ribsnounUS /rɪbz/
plural of “rib” — support resembling the rib of an animal
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
have in common
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
smashedadjectiveUS /smæʃt/
very drunk
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
tolerancenounUS /ˈtɑːlərəns/
the power or capacity of an organism to tolerate unfavorable environmental conditions
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
transferencenounUS /trænˈsfɜːrəns/
(psychoanalysis) the process whereby emotions are passed on or displaced from one person to another; during psychoanalysis the displacement of feelings toward others (usually the parents) is onto the analyst
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was nursed by his elder sister Maggie, a kind, silent, plain person with her brother's queer smile and more than his cynical patience.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading (The majority of the Ministry of Brains staff were having a short holiday, during the transference to other premises.)
which person or people
From this reading With her patience took the form of an infinite tolerance; the tolerance of one who looks upon all human things and sees that they are not much good, nor likely to be.
belonging to which person
From this reading (Chester had not his fair share of this patience: hence his hopes and his faiths, and hence his downfall.) She was kind to Kitty, whose acquaintance she now made.
in the company of; together with
From this reading DEBRIS Chester lay with a broken head and three smashed ribs in his flat in Mount Street.
