used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
consider or hold as true
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
adheredverbUS /ædˈhɪrd/
past form of “adhere” — be compatible or in accordance with
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
bondnounUS /bɑːnd/
an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a young person of either sex
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
complaisantadjectiveUS /kəmˈpleɪsənt/
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
contriveverbUS /kənˈtraɪv/
make or work out a plan for; devise
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
developingadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/
relating to societies in which capital needed to industrialize is in short supply
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
endearingadjectiveUS /enˈdiːrɪŋ/
lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
faithfullyadverbUS /ˈfeɪθfəli/
in a faithful manner
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
foster-parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
imposedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzd/
set forth authoritatively as obligatory
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
a message received and understood
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
the sound of laughing
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
observancenounUS /əbˈzɜːrvəns/
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
repaidverbUS /riˈpeɪd/
inflected form of “repay” — pay back
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
the act of searching for something
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
shapelyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpli/
having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
move stealthily
From this reading And he, for his part, repaid their devotion, growing a shapely slip in their midst, and developing as he grew a disposition as endearing as his form was attractive and his mind alert.
in the near future
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
staidadjectiveUS /steɪd/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
temperedadjectiveUS /ˈtempərd/
made hard or flexible or resilient especially by heat treatment
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading They adhered to the letter of their bond, neither seeking nor desiring information as to their charge, content, and soon for his own sake, to accept him, and love him, and contrive for him to the utmost extent of their ability.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
well-deserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a respect for his foster-parents, as one may call them, tempered in the lady’s case with an inclination to laughter, and for both of them a well-deserved affection.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a bright child, with a power of observance behind a staid manner, and a suspicion of humour twinkling under a gravity that seemed always to measure before it spoke.
a late time of life
From this reading And for thirteen years the silence imposed upon that complaisant couple was faithfully observed by them.
