Chapter XIV

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

characteristic of or containing alcohol

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

for the reason that

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

plural of “beverage” — any liquid suitable for drinking

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

a university in England

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

in a relative manner; by comparison to something else

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

an intense desire for some particular thing

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

recognizable; marked

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

-ing form of “devote” — give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

relating to the process of education

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

settled securely and unconditionally

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

without any others being included or involved

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

having received what was desired

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

an established custom

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

a university in Massachusetts

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

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

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading The senior was most highly gratified.

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

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

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

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

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

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

the act of indulging or gratifying a desire

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The senior was most highly gratified.

a form of address for a man

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

the immediate descendants of a person

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

on one occasion

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

extremely crowed or filled to capacity

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

as yourself

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

The action or process of reforming an institution, practice, or individual's character.

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading The senior was most highly gratified.

make (offspring) by reproduction

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

a male human offspring

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

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

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

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

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

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

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

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

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

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

From this reading He decided to run up to Cambridge and personally congratulate his offspring upon the reformation which had been effected.

belonging to which person

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

the act of creating written works

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

a late time of life

From this reading “I had a friend once, named Smith,” said Mr. Choate, “whose son, although of comparatively tender years, was addicted to the reprehensible habit of indulging in alcoholic beverages.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading “It appeared that the father’s hopes were to be gratified, because the young man, in writing home to ask that his allowance be increased, told his sire that he had mended his ways and now was devoting himself exclusively to the undertaking of acquiring learning.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading The father packed him off to Harvard in the hope that the youth might become interested in educational matters and lose his craving for hard liquor.