used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/
United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
burnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
culturenounUS /ˈkʌltʃər/
a particular society at a particular time and place
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
educeverb
deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning)
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
yet to be or coming
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
and nothing more
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
not able to be found
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
PeriodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
psychologicaladjectiveUS /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
recreationnounUS /ˌrekriˈeɪʃən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Periods of rest are a psychological necessity, but it is the power of returning from the side issue to the life issue, which, in so many cases, is the missing element.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
soul's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
make steady
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The literature that does nothing more than amuse is not the literature which, in future days, one is to fall back on as a maintaining force.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Browning cries out: I count life just a stuff To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.
upstartnounUS /ˈʌpstɑːrt/
an arrogant or presumptuous person
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The reading of novels is a delightful recreation; it is not the reading which should be questioned; it is the power to stop.
belonging to which person
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
a late time of life
From this reading The man of culture is something more than an upstart; his is a slow but a steady growth; the smallest star that burns into the night is one whose rays have taken years to reach the earth.
