used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
ABSTINENCEnounUS /ˈæbstənəns/
the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
From this reading LITERARY ABSTINENCE.
(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 Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
chastisementnoun
verbal punishment
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
inflictedverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪktɪd/
past form of “inflict” — impose something unpleasant
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
injusticenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/
an unjust act
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
a unit of instruction
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading LITERARY ABSTINENCE.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
an educational institution
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
schoolmasternounUS /ˈskuːlmæstər/
presiding officer of a school
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
thumpsnounUS /θʌmps/
plural of “thump” — a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is as much an art not to read as to read.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
whacksnounUS /wæks/
plural of “whack” — the sound made by a sharp swift blow
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading We did not mind so much being whipped by the schoolmaster for not knowing how to read our lesson, but to have to go out ourselves and cut the hickory switch with which the chastisement was to be inflicted seemed to us then, as it does now, a great injustice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
the words that are spoken
From this reading With what pains, and thumps, and whacks at school we first learned the way to put words together!
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Notwithstanding all our hard work in learning to read we find it quite as hard now to learn how not to read.
