used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
brought into existence
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
the two together, not just one
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
make calm or still
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
correspondingadjectiveUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndɪŋ/
accompanying
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
at any time
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
motionsnounUS /ˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “motion” — the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
no person; not anyone
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
quietnessnounUS /ˈkwaɪətnəs/
the property of making no sound
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
express in words
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading His strongest outward characteristic was quietness, both of manner, speech, motions, springing, it appeared, out of a corresponding quietness of soul.
a state of acute pain
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But nobody ever came quite to the end of it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How far this was a popular superstition, and to what length his learning went, it is impossible to say.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
which person or people
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Whether it had been born with him, or through what storms of human passion and suffering he had attained to this permanent central calm, who could say?
