used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/
an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
CarlylenounUS /ˈkɑːrlaɪl/
Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
completionnounUS /kəmˈpliːʃən/
(American football) a successful forward pass in football
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
dragverbUS /dræɡ/
pull, as against a resistance
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
endlesslyadverbUS /ˈendləsli/
continuing forever without end
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
and nothing more
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
philosophernounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfər/
a specialist in philosophy
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Not much genius in that crowd, I imagine," said Bert.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
male cat
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was more to do than was at first thought, but after making allowance for this, it seemed to drag on endlessly.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
which person or people
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why," returned Bert, "I forget what philosopher it was--Carlyle, I think--who says in one of his books that 'genius is only an infinite capacity for hard work.'
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE PURSUIT Down at the ravine, stretched out at full length beneath the shade of a great tree, Bert and Tom were watching the progress of the work, as it slowly neared completion.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What do you mean?" asked Tom, looking up in surprise.
