used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a while, Robert strove to fill his place—strove well, strove earnestly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
consumptionnounUS /kənˈsʌmpʃən/
the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
in a serious manner
From this reading For a while, Robert strove to fill his place—strove well, strove earnestly.
divisible by two
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading For a while, Robert strove to fill his place—strove well, strove earnestly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
hairsnounUS /herz/
plural of “hair” — a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
havocnounUS /ˈhævək/
violent and needless disturbance
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
laborsnounUS /ˈleɪbərz/
plural of “labor” — a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
immediately past
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading Robert and his brother looked sadly on, as his health declined.
schooledverbUS /skuːld/
past form of “school” — educate in or as if in a school
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading For a while, Robert strove to fill his place—strove well, strove earnestly.
carry out
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
the act of using
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
(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 For a while, Robert strove to fill his place—strove well, strove earnestly.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
in or at the place that
From this reading The good old man ceased from his labors at last, and went where the weary rest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Silver hairs were now gathering thickly on his good father’s temples, as he toiled on, to little use, while children grew up fast about his knees, to be fed, schooled, and clothed by his labor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
but in spite of that
From this reading Robert had little inclination for his father’s work, and yet, somebody must take his place; for consumption was even then making rapid and fearful havoc with his constitution.
