Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

-ing form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

relating to or befitting athletics or athletes

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

suggestive of companionship

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

carefully weighed

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

exhibiting courtesy and politeness

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The years drifted on.

lasting a long time

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

plural of “friendship” — the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

death of a person

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

a person who hates

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

plural of “hatred” — the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

-ing form of “mature” — develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The years drifted on.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

by chance

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

express in words

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading One evening his mother said she had something of grave importance to say to him, adding that he was old enough to hear it now, and old enough and possessed of character enough and stability enough to carry out a stern plan which she had been for years contriving and maturing.

not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

(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 He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He was a good hater--that was well; but it was a question if the materials of his hatreds were of as tough and enduring a quality as those of his friendships--and that was not so well.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.

love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol

From this reading But she considered that his love for her and worship of her made up for it.

a late time of life

From this reading The years drifted on.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Archy was become a handsome, shapely, athletic youth, courteous, dignified, companionable, pleasant in his ways, and looking perhaps a trifle older than he was, which was sixteen.