AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And so did Gissing.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
assuringadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrɪŋ/
giving confidence
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
BigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
BusinessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
dictatingverbUS /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dictate” — issue commands or orders for
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And so did Gissing.
diversionnounUS /daɪˈvɜːrʒən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
easiestadjectiveUS /ˈiːziəst/
superlative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
Gissing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so did Gissing.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
inneradjectiveUS /ˈɪnər/
located inward
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
innocentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnəsənt/
free from evil or guilt
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
insistedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəd/
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading This job was no sinecure.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
meanverbUS /miːn/
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This job was no sinecure.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
realizeverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/
and nothing more
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
sinecurenoun
a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached
From this reading This job was no sinecure.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so did Gissing.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He did not realize that dictating letters is the quaint diversion of business men, and that most of them mean nothing.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This job was no sinecure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This job was no sinecure.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading It is simply the easiest way of assuring yourself that you are busy.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading In his new zeal, and in his innocent satisfaction at having entered the inner circle of Big Business, he insisted on answering everything.
