used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
abstractedadjectiveUS /ˈæbstræktɪd/
lost in thought; showing preoccupation
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
(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 Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
power to direct or determine
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
coughverbUS /kɑːf/
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/
having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
elusiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
embernounUS /ˈembər/
a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
apart from; not including
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
inattentiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈtentɪv/
showing a lack of attention or care
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
intentsnounUS /ˌɪnˈtents/
plural of “intent” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
IntimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
inturned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
jarrings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
lightestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəst/
superlative of “light” — of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
quivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
satirenounUS /ˈsætaɪər/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
stringsnounUS /strɪŋz/
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
sulkyadjective
sullen or moody
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a month it seemed that they had always known him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
tormentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrments/
plural of “torment” — unbearable physical pain
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He possessed little sense of humour, and the lightest satire turned him sulky.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
violinnounUS /vaɪəˈlɪn/
bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading His nerves, dulled to all great torments like poverty, hunger, obscurity, quivered like violin strings under little unaccustomed jarrings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Intimacy was so impossible with his inturned, elusive nature, that to have him sitting through hours of silence by the birch fire, abstracted, dreamy, inattentive, except to some chance word that stirred his fancy, was to know him well, to all intents.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If interrupted in the reading of his verses he would lose his control beyond belief; a chance cough, the falling of an ember, put him out of tune for hours.
