used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
ascribedverbUS /əˈskraɪbd/
past form of “ascribe” — attribute or credit to
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
for the reason that
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
a youthful male person
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Poor children!
compressedadjectiveUS /kəmˈprest/
pressed tightly together
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
displeasedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspliːzd/
not pleased; experiencing or manifesting displeasure
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
Ivo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
immediately past
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
not divisible by two
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor children!
prescribedadjectiveUS /priˈskraɪbd/
set down as a rule or guide
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
with low volume
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
an educational institution
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
schoolmasternounUS /ˈskuːlmæstər/
presiding officer of a school
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading His merry questions, remarks, and odd speeches gained for Ivo throughout the village the reputation of a "smart, quick-witted boy."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
at the time that
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For hours they are compressed into themselves: when released at last, how can they be blamed for shaking themselves and greeting the free air to which they return?
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nobody surmised to whom this early activity of his mind was to be ascribed.
whoopedverbUS /wuːpt/
past form of “whoop” — shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The schoolmaster was displeased with him because he never went home from school quietly, as the rules prescribed, but always screamed and whooped like an Indian.
