used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
asksverbUS /æsks/
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
beseechingadjectiveUS /biˈsiːtʃɪŋ/
begging
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
a youthful male person
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
ConfuciusnounUS /kənˈfjuːʃəs/
Chinese philosopher whose ideas and sayings were collected after his death and became the basis of a philosophical doctrine known a Confucianism (circa 551-478 BC)
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
put on clothes
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
fortune-teller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
gemsnounUS /dʒemz/
plural of “gem” — art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
HopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
the literary culture
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
occurring by chance
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
nibnounUS /nɪb/
the writing point of a pen
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
pignounUS /pɪɡ/
domestic swine
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
pupilnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
express in words
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
an educational institution
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
shavedadjectiveUS /ʃeɪvd/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
slabnounUS /slæb/
block consisting of a thick piece of something
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
a male human offspring
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
in the near future
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
spotlessadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtləs/
completely neat and clean
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the master sits down and the boy bows his head to the ground, beseeching his master to teach him letters.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
trotsnounUS /trɑːts/
plural of “trot” — a slow pace of running
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
the act of using
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
(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 When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
at the time that
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the neat bundle which he carries as he trots along by his father’s side he has ‘the four gems of the study’ ready for use, that is to say, a pen which has a brush for a nib, a cake of ink, a stone slab for rubbing down the ink with water, and a set of books.
which person or people
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading SCHOOL DAYS The Chinese people think so much of learning that they say, “Better to rear a pig than bring up a son who will not read!”
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading As soon as the new pupil has been taken into the school and introduced in the proper way, the teacher asks the spirit of Confucius to help the little scholar with his work.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When the time comes for a boy to go to school, a lucky day is chosen by a fortune-teller, and young Hopeful, spotless in dress, and with head well shaved, is taken to be introduced to his teacher.
