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 I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

relating to the use of or having the nature of a declaration

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the two together, not just one

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

a state at a particular time

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

at any time

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

accept an excuse for

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

a first-year undergraduate

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

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

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

introducing a different topic

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used to form the superlative

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

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

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

in an open way

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

by chance

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

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

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

-ing form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

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

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

undergo or be subjected to

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

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

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

(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 If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading The nearest he ever got to openly resenting me as a freshman was when he admitted, as if it were a crime, that he too had been in college and knew less when he came out than when he entered.

at the time that

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

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

From this reading I was a freshman in college: a fact--or condition, perhaps,--which should serve as an excuse for both of us.

during the time that

From this reading I possessed another uncle, incidentally, and while I am now convinced that he must have felt as Uncle Rilas did about it, he was one of those who suffer in silence.

which person or people

From this reading I am quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool.

belonging to which person

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading If memory serves me well he relieved himself of that conviction in the presence of my mother--whose brother he was--at a time when I was least competent to acknowledge _his_ wisdom and most arrogant in asserting my own.