adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
beernounUS /bɪr/
a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
BismarcknounUS /ˈbɪzmɑːrk/
German statesman under whose leadership Germany was united (1815-1898)
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
collegenounUS /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
fish-pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
graspverbUS /ɡræsp/
hold firmly
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
ladnounUS /læd/
a boy or man
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
lazinessnounUS /ˈleɪzinəs/
inactivity resulting from a dislike of work
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/
16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/
held dear
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
physicallyadverbUS /ˈfɪzɪkəli/
in accord with physical laws
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
simplestadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpləst/
superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
spellingnounUS /ˈspelɪŋ/
forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
sprawlverbUS /sprɔːl/
sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
tatteredadjectiveUS /ˈtætərd/
worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
ThackeraynounUS /ˈθækəri/
English writer (born in India) (1811-1863)
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading Bismarck failed to get a University degree, because he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Thackeray, as a lad, was dropped from college for laziness and for gambling.
WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading George Washington, in student days, could never grasp the simplest rules of spelling.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now, these men were giants--physically as well as mentally.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish-pole or tattered book, when he should have been working.
